Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Naruto vs. Sasuke The Aftermath ❯ Sakura's Fall From Grace ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter 3 Summary: As everyone thinks about what they have learned about Naruto, all of them anxiously await the outcome of his surgery. While waiting, Sakura appears looking for Sasuke and gets more than she bargained for from her visit.

 

Naruto vs. Sasuke The Aftermath

 

Chapter 3 “Sakura's Fall From Grace”

 

As Jiriaya left the waiting room to help Tsunade with Naruto's operation, he left behind a very stunned group of people. They were all silent as each one attempted to come to terms with what the toad sage had just told them. The Jounin present had known what the true demise of the Kyuubi demon had been, but not of Narutos true heritage, all save one Kakashi. He had known being a student of the 4th Hokage, which made him wonder even more why he didn't foster a better relationship with Naruto? Silently, he cursed himself again for his failings and vowed to rectify his mistakes with Naruto if given another chance. The Chunin in the room had never known about the imprisonment of the nine-tailed fox into their friend. They had always been told that the 4th Hokage had sacrificed his own life to destroy Kyuubi. Even more shocking to them was to learn that Naruto was a direct descendant of the Leaf villages' greatest hero. They had been told their whole life by their parents to avoid and stay away from Naruto, been never given a valid reason as to why? But, honoring one's parents is a long-standing shinobi tradition and they followed their parent's wishes. Now many of them were regretting this action and how they themselves had treated Naruto in the past. Finally, Rock Lee broke the silence and asked his Sensei.

 

“Gai Sensei, why would our parents not tell us any of this and why were they so adamant that we should stay away from Naruto, it isn't right?”

 

“Your right Lee, it isn't right but your parents in fact everyone was bound by the 3rd Hokages decree not to divulge any of what you have just heard to the next generation.

This decree was punishable by death to those who broke this law. As for your parents telling you to stay away from Naruto, you must understand. The Kyuubi demon killed many people in the Leaf village before it was stopped by Yondaime and many people stupidly saw Naruto as the Kyuubi and not for what he really is, the cage that keeps the demon at bay. So, instead of honoring Naruto, as people should have, they shunned him and made him an outcast. In my opinion Lee, it has been the great shame of this village for the past 14 years.”

 

Shikamaru unable to contain his anger any longer shouts.

 

“Why would the 3rd Hokage create such a stupid law, didn't he know the hell Naruto went through growing up? I remember as a kid, I was with my mother in the market and a mob had formed and they were throwing stones at this little blonde haired boy trying to drive him away! I remember I asked my mother why were people throwing rocks at this kid! She just said that he deserved it, and then I watched her pick up a stone and throw it at him! She then told me to throw a rock as well and I, I did! Will somebody please explain to me why he deserved that and all the other crap he went through his whole life? Please will somebody tell me why?” The despair in his voice cutting through the room like a knife, as he dropped to his knees, tears streaming down his face.

 

Asuma walked over to where his student was and lifted him back to his feet. He didn't know what to say to alleviate the pain Shikamaru was feeling, but he knew he had to say something.

 

“Shikamaru, he didn't deserve any of that. The 3rd Hokage thought his decree would protect Naruto not harm him. Instead people looked upon the law as Sarutobi trying to appease the Kyuubi and not kill it as they felt he should. They failed to realize that the demon couldn't be killed, only contained. It was a bad decision the 3rd Hokage made, but he tried his best. If its any consolation, Lord Sarutobi carried through his sentence on many a person who attacked or hurt Naruto in any way.”

 

“But don't you see Sensei, if all people had known the truth then that decree would not have been necessary.” Shikamaru mournfully says as he wipes his tears away.

 

Asuma merely looked down and said.

 

“It was a mistake Shikamaru, one that the 3rd Hokage regretted to his dying day. You have to remember, Hokages are human beings as well. They are not all knowing no matter how much we may wish that they were.”

 

“To be the next Hokage, that's Narutos dream isn't it?” Neji Hyuga spoke startling everyone in the room to see he had been standing in the doorway of the next operating room listening to everything.

 

“Yes Neji, it is” Kakashi says.

 

“Now I know where Naruto gets his incredible strength from and no I'm not talking about the Kyuubi. To grow up going through what he had too and not hate the world is a strength and a resolve I could never attain. I thought I had it bad growing up, but its nothing compared to him. I truly feel like an idiot with the crap I said to him during our match in the Chunin finals. If he lives, I hope he can forgive my stupidity and I would be honored to fight along his side in the future.” Neji says with determination in his voice.

 

“As will I,” Rock Lee shouts.

 

“As will we all,” Shino says as well.

 

Gai, Asuma, and Kurnai all look at one another and all of them realize what a special group of students they have been blessed with. Their pride in them never stronger than it was at that moment. They look over to Kakashi who also has been absorbing what's been said and he is proud of them and of his fellow Jounin as well. But he is more ashamed of himself and his failure to instill this sense of honor into his own students. One is a traitor, and one is a lovesick kunoichi fool pining away for that scum. Only Naruto has this sense of honor, and Kakashi had been a blind fool not to see it sooner. Just as he comes to this realization, Sakura comes bursting in and says, “Where's Sasuke?”

 

As Sakura reached the waiting room, she could barely contain her excitement at seeing Sasuke again. As she entered the room, and asked about Sasuke she saw all of her friends there and thought they must be here to welcome Sasuke back as well. And why not, he's such a great guy, it's no wonder he has so many friends not like that nuisance Naruto. As she scanned the room looking for Sasuke, she failed to notice the glares many of the people were giving to her. Not seeing Sasuke anywhere, she asks the closest person to her in the room again, “Where is Sasuke?”

 

Shikamaru being that said person in the room says.

 

“Don't know, don't really care, he can rot in hell as far as I'm concerned!”

 

This immediately brought Sakura's famous temper to a boil. Nobody talks about Sasuke like that with her around, and she shouts at Shikamaru.

 

“You take that back, you lazy good for nothing jerk! Hey Ino, are you just going to sit there and let your dobe of a teammate talk about Sasuke like that?”

 

Ino lifted her head and looked directly at Sakura and said.

 

“Sit down and shut up Sakura! No one here is in any mood to listen to your bullshit right now!”

 

It was then that Sakura looked around the room and noticed the glares being sent her way by everyone in the room. Confused as to what was going on, she turned to Kakashi Sensei who was also leveling a cold stare her direction and stammers.

 

“What, what's going on?”

 

Just then, a Medic Nin pushing a gurney with Hinata on it came through the doorway of the operating room. Shizune pushing another gurney with Tsunade on it followed this.

 

“Hinata,” Kurenai shouts as she rushes over to check on her student's condition.

 

“Don't worry about Hinata, she's fine. She gave everything she had during the operation and she's completely spent right now, but she will recover. You were right Kurenai she has incredible strength for one so young.” Tsunade says in a weak voice.

 

“I'm sorry, we've got to get these two to the recovery room right now the operation was more dire than we expected.” Shizune states and they immediately wheel the two away.

 

“Operation, is Sasuke ok?” Sakura asks in a panicked voice.

 

The doors swing open once more with Jiriaya pushing a gurney containing Naruto. He looks around and chuckles, “Hey kid, there's some people here who want to say hi to you, don't pass out just yet. Naruto with great effort lifts his head and says, “Hey guys, what's up?”

 

Everyone in the room, except Kakashi and Sakura make their way over to the gurney to check on Naruto. Kakashi not moving out of a sense of guilt, Sakura not moving because no one has told her anything about Sasuke yet?

 

“Hey knucklehead, you look pretty damn comfortable there. How long are you going laid up and missing all that fun shinobi training?” Shikamaru says in a laughing sarcastic way.

 

“I don't know Shikamaru, they say at least 3 weeks but I hope its sooner than that. I'll go crazy not being able to train that long,” Naruto in a weakened voice says.

 

“Oh man Naruto,” Shikamaru says, slapping his hand to his forehead. “3 weeks of bed rest with no training, Man I have fantasies about such things and here you are complaining about it,” as the entire group laughs.

 

“Yes Naruto, get well quickly. Lady Tsunade thinks she might be able to mend my arm and leg and when she does, I want to spar with you as soon as possible to test my skills against some of your new jutsu's.” Lee interjects.

 

“As do I Naruto, you are a worthy opponent.” Neji says as he extends his hand to Naruto.

 

A somewhat surprised Naruto takes Neji's hand and shakes it, though it took all the strength he could muster to do it and says.

 

“Sure thing Neji, no problem and you too Lee.”

 

“Excellent,” Lee exclaims.

 

“Hey pervy sage, where's Kakashi Sensei?” Naruto says as he scans the people around him.

 

Kakashi upon hearing his name immediately moves over to the gurney and looks down on Naruto and says in a soft voice.

 

“Hey kid, how are you doing?

 

“I'm ok Sensei, I understand I have you to thank for saving my life. I'm sorry I let you down.” Naruto says in a mournful voice.

 

In a voice crackling with several emotions Kakashi says.

 

“Naruto, You didn't let me down, just the opposite I feel I've let you down. I've never been more proud of you than I am right now. You just get some rest and heal, and then I'll give you some training like you wouldn't believe.”

 

“That sounds great Kakashi Sensei, um is Sakura here Sensei? Naruto anxiously asks.

 

“She's here Naruto,” Kakashi says as he turns to her to call her over.

 

Sakura walks over to the gurney, still confused as to what is going on? She looks over to Naruto and says.

 

“Hi Naruto.”

 

“Hey Sakura, how are you?” Naruto asks in a strained voice.

 

“I don't know how I am Naruto, nobody here will tell me anything? Where is Sasuke Naruto?”

 

Naruto once again crushed that the first thing Sakura says is about Sasuke, looks down timidly and says.

 

“I'm sorry Sakura, we or should I say I couldn't bring Sasuke back. I'm sorry, I couldn't keep my promise to you, he's gone.”

 

Sakura just stood there staring at Naruto her body slightly quivering, before she finally spoke.

 

“Naruto, you idiot! I ask you to do one thing in my life and you can't even do that right! Gaa, I don't know what I was thinking believing you could actually accomplish something! I mean Sasuke always called you a loser but I never really believed that until.”

 

“That's enough,” Jiriaya yelled. “This loser little girl has already passed out so thankfully he can't hear anymore of this garbage your spewing out of you mouth. Please handle this Kakashi as I may go too far if I deal with it.” And with that Jiriaya wheeled the gurney out of the room towards the recovery wing.

 

“What does he mean handle it Kakashi Sensei,” Sakura asks before a hand strikes her across the face knocking her down. Sakura looks up to see her Sensei standing over her his body shaking with rage.

 

The rest of the people in the room took a step back wondering where this was going to go? They were already stunned by Sakura's vile treatment of Naruto. Kakashi's reaction was also stunning if not deserved in and of itself. As Sakura struggled to get to her feet, she heard Kakashi say in a vengeful voice.

 

“If you get up Sakura, I will knock you down again! You will sit there and shut up and listen to what I have to say right now!”

 

Sakura looked down and quietly said, “Yes Sensei.”

 

“I said shut up! I don't want to hear your voice again, do you understand,” Kakashi says with vengeance.

 

Sakura afraid to look up at her Sensei slowly nodded her head.

 

“Now listen up and listen well, because I'm not going to repeat myself. In case you didn't notice, Naruto was nearly killed trying to keep his promise to you. And the individual who nearly succeeded in killing him was your precious Sasuke.” Kakashi angrily informs her.

 

Sakura eyes grew wide upon hearing this and she lifted her head to Kakashi and was about to say something when the look in her Sensei's eyes told her this would be a mistake.

 

“Furthermore, Sasuke and his new friends also nearly killed Neji, and Chouji as well as severely injuring Shikamaru and Kiba. Sasuke has chosen to betray everything and everyone in the Leaf village in his insatiable quest for power! So the sooner you realize this in that bubblehead you call a brain, the sooner people will quit looking upon you as a lovesick idiot to this villages greatest traitor since Orochimaru! Whom by the way Sasuke has now allied himself with! Its time for you to grow up Sakura! Perhaps there is still hope for you to become a decent respectable shinobi, I don't know? But after witnessing what you said to Naruto, who has done everything he can to be your friend, to no avail I might add. I can't stand to look at you any more! You are now nothing more to me than a reminder of what a failure I have been as a Sensei not only to Naruto, but also to you and Sasuke as well, judging by both of your recent actions. As my last official act as Sensei of team #7, I hereby dissolve this team effective immediately! Kakashi announces as he turns to leave the room.

 

Sakura and everyone else in the room are shaken beyond words at Kakashi's final statement. As Kakashi begins to walk away he stops and says.

 

“I apologize to all of you who have just witnessed what has just transpired, both in my words and actions. But it needed to be done, my failure as a Sensei to my three students is absolute in this matter and I can offer no defense for that. Sakura, if you are wise, you will see if any of these other Jounin would be willing to carry on your training as a shinobi. Looking upon their students, you could find no better no matter which one trained you. They are by far more qualified than I to be a Sensei to anyone. Goodbye Sakura, I hope you've heard what I've said and I wish you well,” as he turns once again to leave.

 

Sakura with tears streaming down her face calls out, “Wait Kakashi Sensei.”

Without turning to look back, Kakashi dejectedly says.

 

“Haven't you heard anything I've said Sakura? I'm no longer yours or anyone's Sensei.”

 

And with that Hatake Kakashi, the “Copy Ninja,” one of the Leaf villages greatest and strongest Jounin walks out of the room and into the unknown.