Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Struggling Hearts ❯ Unexpected Delays ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 2:

Unexpected Delays

 

DISCLAIMER: do we really have to do one of these every chapter? Oh well, Naruto isn't mine, nor will it ever be.

 

 

Sakura headed quickly towards the medic building, where she had been working for awhile now. Thoughts had been running through her mind like hamsters on wheels. Why would she have to perform the reviving jutsu? Why would she want to give up her life for someone she didn't know? Her eyes wandered to the ground as she came to the entrance of the medic building.

 

“I'm not even sure I know how to do it.” She sighed, she had only watched Chiyo perform this on Gaara. The only way to properly perform it is to give your life to the person she was healing, meaning, the “user” of the jutsu would die. She shook her head, and decided she would refuse to do it.

 

With a deep breath, she pushed the door open to the building and was bombarded by other medic nins and finally brought up to Tsunade. The face of the hokage was a mix of anger and worry. The moment their eyes met, Sakura knew something was wrong. Something terribly bad had to have happened for Tsunade to look like she did. Sakura could not remember a time when she had looked so worried. It was a bit frightening.

 

“Tsunade-sensei! What's the matter?” Sakura's voice was full of concern. Something in her brain finally clicked. She looked around her, everyone that had gone on the mission with Kakashi was back. Though, she could not see her former sensei anywhere. She spotted Kiba, Akamaru, and Shino. She felt the muscle's in her legs about to move towards them until she felt a hand touch her shoulder.

 

“Sakura, as you might have guessed, Kakashi's team has come back from their mission. Though, we have had a few casualties.” Tsunade had finally composed herself, and the usual calm expression took over her face. Her arms crossed as she continued to speak, “I would like you to tell me everything you know about that reviving jutsu you saw that old bat, Chiyo perform.”

 

Sakura resisted glaring at Tsunade, Old bat? It's because of the `old bat' that Gaara is still alive, and she's dead for it. “Well, since I only saw her perform it, I'm not exactly sure how to do it. The only thing I'm sure of is that you have to give up your own life to save the person you are performing it on.” More thoughts came to her mind, was Kakashi one of the people Tsunade was talking about? She felt her eyes widen at the thought of having to give up her life so that Kakashi would be able to live. Would she be able to do it?

 

“All right, if that is it. I would like you to start performing some healing jutsu to all the injured ANBU. The names of the fallen ninja will be carved upon the stone tomorrow morning, and their ceremonies will also be tomorrow. I'll need to get to work right away,” Tsunade seemed to be her old self again. Though, that bothered Sakura, what made the change so sudden?

 

Sakura didn't bother to ask; instead she looked at all the ANBU in the room that had minor cuts. The one's that were in separate rooms were in much more critical condition, so she would have to start there. She started wondering why Tsunade would want to know about the reviving jutsu, and then basically change the subject immediately after. She must have had some sort of cause, but it wasn't like Sakura to question, so she would just begin her duties. But first, she had a few questions for Kiba and Shino.

 

She began to walk towards them quickly; she wouldn't have much time to talk to them before she would need to start healing the critical wounds. Akamaru had grown to a beastly size, she remembered when the little dog was able to fit into Kiba's now non-existent coat. Now, however, Kiba could ride the dog.

 

Shino looked up at Sakura first and spoke quietly, “Shouldn't you be healing the wounded?”

 

Sakura looked calmly at Shino, though her voice was utter panic, “Kiba, Shino, what happened on your mission? Who died?”

 

Kiba was about to speak when Shino interrupted him, “You know we're not allowed to discuss our missions. You'll find out who died tomorrow like all the others.”

 

Sakura scowled and balled her fists, “Look, I know… it's not like I haven't been learning anything while I'm here. ANBU can't talk to anyone outside their group about their mission, or the casualties they took, until it is publicly announced.” She crossed her arms, “Just tell me if Kakashi's alright!” She noticed she was almost yelling and she covered her mouth then glared at the two.

 

Akamaru let out a deep growl and Kiba sighed, “We know that Kakashi was your sensei, and respect it. But he isn't anymore. Got it? So stop asking about it and go do your job.” He crossed his arms, but didn't dare look in the pink-haired kunoichi's eyes. He was sure they would burn him.

 

Sakura finally decided that they were right. She hated how they were right. She shouldn't be asking about Kakashi, after all… it's not like they were lovers or anything close. They were hardly even considered “close”. He was a friend to her that was it. She shuddered, besides, he's 14 years older that me. She had a look of disgust on her face that received odd looks from Shino and Kiba.

 

She turned on her heal and walked towards the closest room and set herself to work. “Good evening sir,” she said, as kindly as her voice would let her, “I am Haruno Sakura.” She walked towards the man on the bed and smiled. “I've heard of your loss, and I am greatly sorry.” The man's eyes were closed and she felt great sympathy for him. She could tell he wouldn't be talking to her any time soon so she decided to just do her job. A seal here, a seal there, and she placed a hand over his ribs and started to heal them. He had two broken ribs, a broken ankle, and a poisoned-tipped kunai had grazed his arm.

 

When she was finally finished with him, she was already nearly drained. The only thing that kept her going was thinking the next room would hold her former sensei. All she could do was hope he was alright. She smiled at a single though, Sorry I'm late, but you see, there were these two raccoons who decided to—She shook her head, Why do I keep thinking of him. Her inner self commented, It's just because you haven't seen him in forever.

 

She sighed, At this rate, I won't get home until Naruto is already gone. She looked at the long list of people she still had to tend to. “Yup, this'll take all night.”

 

She headed to the next room, and found that the person here was already healed, as was the person next to him. In fact, all the people she had to tend to were healed. “What's going on?” She raised an eyebrow and looked around, and found that three other medic nins had been sent up.

 

“We saw how many were injured and thought that you might need help. We know you're seeing your friend off to the Chuunin exam, so we wanted to do as much as we could. Though, there is still some poison in a few of them. I'm afraid none of us know how to get it out yet.” She was a small woman, probably about 15 or 16. The other two were about the same.

 

Sakura smiled and bowed, “I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

 

The girls shook there head and the second one spoke, “No, we thank you. We look up to you and want to become as powerful as you someday. We've seen what you can do, and we want to be Tsunade's apprentices one day too.”

 

Sakura's heart felt warm at the thought of being respected. It made her think about becoming a jounin so that she could teach a cell of three of her own. But, that was a long way from now. She bowed to them, and they bowed back, going back to work and healing the minor wounds.

 

The men in each room had nearly been completely healed and the one's that had poison were now poison free. This really drained Sakura of a lot of chakra, and she knew she would have to sleep to be able to see Naruto off tomorrow. A stifled yawn escaped her mouth and she stretched her arms.

 

I'm too tired to go back to my house. I'd probably collapse from exhaustion on the way there anyway. She sighed and decided that she would just have stay here for the night. She told one of the girls who had helped her to wake her up in time before the Chuunin exam started, maybe she'd get some ramen with Naruto for a change, just for good luck or something.

The girl that Sakura had asked simply tilted her head to the side and gave a confused expression, “Ano… Sakura-sensei, the Chuunin exam starts in an hour. There's no way you'd be able to sleep and get there in time.” She shook her head, “I'm terribly sorry, we should have helped more.”

 

Sakura shook her head and smiled weakly, “No, it's not your fault,” she gave the girl a small hug and sat back down in the chair, “Though there is no way for me to make it there in time. I've already used too much chakra.” Her eyes brightened as she thought of something. “I might not be able to, but maybe you could?”

 

The girl nearly laughed, “Yeah I could get there before the test started, but why would I go there?”

 

Sakura smiled, “Because, you're going to give Naruto a note for me.” She grabbed a piece of paper and a pen from the table beside the chair and started to write Naruto a letter, simply saying,

 

Sorry I couldn't see you off. The old man, Kakashi, was late as usual, and his team followed. They got back last night and I had to treat all the critically wounded, and I won't be able to see you before you take the test. But good luck, and let's get some ramen afterwards. I just know you'll pass.

 

-Sakura

 

She finished writing the note and handed it to the girl, “Could you give this to my friend, he's blonde headed and blue eyes and has three black stripes on both cheeks, he shouldn't be hard to find. He's very loud and obnoxious.” She snickered a little as the girl took the note and bowed.

 

Sakura was finally alone in the room. She simply closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

 

 

Author's Note: Yeah for the second chapter! Told you it would be longer. Though, I think they'll just keep getting longer and longer. I still feel like I didn't write a lot, but oh well. The third chapter will be going up soon, hopefully. It all depends on homework.

 

Thanks for all the reviews though! ^^ I really appreciate it. And I hope I explained more about the reviving jutsu I was talking about in the first chapter. If you haven't read up until 283 of the manga, you probably had no idea what I was talking about, so I hope I explained it a bit better.

And sorry for the no Kakashi-ness, I promise he'll be in the next chapter. I just try to do the unexpected, and I'm sure everyone was expecting him to be the one that she would have to revive, or just be really hurt. But then, they would get together too soon in the story! *shakes head* no, that wouldn't do at all!

Well, until next time! Keep on reviewing! ^^