Chapter 15: Chapter Fifteen
I sighed with a smile, feeling refreshed after my hot shower. I slid on my shoes and grabbed my bag. I was thankful the hospital was allowing us to use their employee showers while we were crashing here.
My skin felt clean and I didn't feel like a dirty ball of germs anymore. I walked to room 407, where I have been staying for two weeks now while Sakura, Carver and Raiden recover from the ambush in the Iron Village which was now burnt to ashes.
I walked in and closed the door behind me, it was mid-day and I feeling ready to get some TV time in! Carver and I have been watching a show together that we both enjoyed, and the new episode was on tonight!
"Well it's about time." Her voice sent shivers down my back as I quickly spun around on my heel. Sakura's hospital bed was reclined up in a sitting position, she was looking at me amused watching my shocked expression painted on my face. "I almost sent someone to check and make sure you didn't fall." Sakura's cracked a smile on her soft pink lips.
"Sakura?" I breathed, walking to the foot of her bed and stared in disbelief. "Your awake?"
"Clearly." She rolled her eyes; she turned her head to Tsunade who was sitting by her side. I studied her jaw line and my eyes trailed down on her neck; it was the most beautiful neck I had ever seen! A white blanket covered her legs, I saw her left arm had a bandage wrapped around the forearm.
"How do you feel?" I wondered, setting my bag down without ever taking my eyes off her.
"I am fine Naruto." Sakura's voice was like music to my ears! All of a sudden the room cleared, and the air felt cleaner due to the atmosphere Sakura naturally projected around her. I pulled a chair up to sit beside Tsunade who was talking about her condition.
As the two spoke large words I didn't really understand I couldn't stop staring at Sakura and the way she held herself, she appeared to be so strong even though she almost died two weeks ago. It was almost as if she was brushing off the fact, she dragged her two teammates off a battle ground and barely kept her life it was...amazing.
My arm itched, I reached over and scratched it but then a memory popped into my head. The night Sakura flat lined, the pain that exploded inside my arm...
"Sakura...?" I looked up in her direction, she pulled her attention off Tsunade and onto me.
"Hm?" She asked.
"What happened to the seals you put on us?" I asked, I noticed Kakashi and Sasuke's attention perked up.
"What do you mean?" She countered.
"Well...one night when you...um...I felt pain in my arm, does that mean your seal is off me?" I explained my question further.
"Yes." Sakura said, turning back to Tsunade to continue their conversation.
"But-" I blurted, "-But you didn't die-"
"Well she kinda did." Tsunade said, sipping a tea.
"You didn't tell us that!" I turned to granny
"What do you think flat lined meant?" Tsunade asked me, I shrugged.
"I don't know-!"
"I pull them off you." Sakura cut in.
"Wha-?" I was taken back.
"The seals I placed on you three take up a lot of chakra, normally I can maintain it but I with five large village's putting up their seals and my body trying to heal itself I had to delegate where my chakra went."
"You could do that?" I breathed, so amazed by Sakura's abilities.
"Yes."
"Even in your coma?" Sasuke asked.
"Yes."
"Were you even in a coma?" Sasuke wondered.
"I was."
"Your so cool Sakura!" I smiled at her.
"And we contacted Kaguya." Tsunade remembered,
"Yeah?" Sakura asked.
"Yes." Tsunade's face was so stern, I was a little surprised when Sakura lightly laughed.
"How did that go?"
"Perfectly fine." Tsunade painted a smile.
"Oh really?" Sakura chuckled, "She didn't argue? She didn't demand we be returned to the Waterfall Village?"
"You sure you weren't in a coma?" Sasuke asked again.
"I am sure." Sakura had a playful smirk on her lips, I felt excited seeing that. "I have just known Kaguya a long time."
I was about to suggest we get takeout from ichiraku ramen for lunch and maybe even for dinner too. It has been so long since I have had been there! I felt the withdraws start to scratch at me! I looked up seeing Sakura had pulled the blanket off her legs and she was getting up!? Tsunade and Kakashi jumped before I could,
"What are you doing!?" Kakashi was alarmed.
"Sakura you cannot get up!" Tsunade lectured as they tried to get her back into bed without having to touch her. Sakura smiled; my heart clenched as my breath got stuck in my throat. It was a real smiled that blossomed across her face, her eyes shined as she turned and looked in my direction at Tsunade giving me a full view of the blue moon occurrence. I can't remember Sakura ever giving us a genuine smile before, it was fantastic. Sakura stretched her muscles; I heard a light pop and she sighed looking to she felt a little better.
"Sakura-" I went to lecture her as well, she needed to rest. Her head tilted my way as she smiled again causing my heart to flutter.
"I have had much worse Naruto; I am going to be fine." She said, turning to Carver who was ignoring us watching TV and Raiden who was asleep. "Are you going to get up or fuse with that bed instead?" She called, I felt confused. These three were injured, they needed to lay around and recover! Carver sighed, flicking the Tv off and pulling the blanket back.
"What-?" I breathed as Tsunade moved past me.
"You are in no condition-" Tsunade lectured as he blocked Carver from moving.
"Sakura-!" I sighed, seeing she had moved away from her bed and she was beside Kakashi going through her bag which was on the small counter behind where Kakashi had been sitting. She pulled clothing and went to move towards the bathroom but Kakashi blocked her.
"You need to get back into bed." Kakashi said looking down at her, he held over a foot of height over her but that didn't faze Sakura.
"Are you going to make me?" Sakura asked, I had to stop my mouth from dropping open,
"Sak-Sakura!" I stepped in, "You are hurt-"
"Like I said-" Sakura side stepped around Kakashi who was not expecting her to move so fast in her condition. "-I am fine." Sakura said walking into the bathroom. I sighed defeated, I turned to Carver who was laughing at Tsunade.
"I demand you get back in bed!" Tsunade placed her hands on her hips.
"You demand me?" Carver smiled at the blonde woman in front of him.
"Yes!" Tsunade glared not backing down. Carver leaned forward, cupping Tsunade's chin as he was inches from her face.
"I am the only one who gets to demand-"
"Hey-!" Tsunade jumped back, her face beat red I knew my mouth was hanging open. She hit him on the shoulder. "Get-Get back in bed!" I looked around the room wondering what the fuck was going on!? It was like someone flipped a switch on Carver and he was back to his pervy ways. The bathroom door opened, and Sakura walked out dressed in black pants and a loose looking dark blue shirt. She left her hair down which was about as rare as one of her smiles.
"No-" Tsunade waved her hand at Sakura. "-no to all of this. Get back in there and change back into your hospital clothes."
"I'm not going to do that." Sakura said moving to where her bag was, I watched her pull out a phone, but it wouldn't turn on since it was dead. Sakura sighed, turning back to her bag probably looking for her charger.
"You two are in no condition to be up and moving around!" Tsunade was looking mad, I almost saw steam smoking out her ears. "I did not sit by your bedsides for the past two weeks worrying about you and treating-"
"Thank you." Sakura cut Tsunade off having plunged in her phone.
"What-Er..." Tsunade stumbled, Sakura was acting a little out of character. Maybe she was still really hurt, and therefore her behavior is different!
"Thank you all for looking out for us while we were down." Sakura went on. "I know it was probably difficult and a shock having us blow into your village the way we did but you looked out for me and my team and I thank you."
"Well-I-Yeah..." Tsunade stuttered shaking her head up and down, looking proud like she had constructed a proper sentence.
"I will pay you for the room and treatment for the three of us." Sakura said setting her phone beside her bag. "Just let me know-"
"There's no need for that." Tsunade said with a wave of her hand. "You three has saved this village I don't know how many times; it is the least we could do."
"Alright." Sakura said, not pushing the matter further she then turned to the bed Raiden laid in. I looked at Sasuke worried, I had no idea how Sakura was going to react when he woke up and-- "Are you going to continue to fake it or...?" Sakura trailed off Sasuke and I exchanged looks when Raiden slowly sat up. He hasn't been sleeping this entire time!?
"Sakura..." Raiden wouldn't look in her direction.
"I see you two have been milking it." Sakura sat on the end of her bed looking at her two comrades. I knew this was a high stress situation where Raiden was going to have to answer for allowing his team to be injured but damn...Sakura looked look the way she leaned against that hospital bedroom looking like a model pulled right from her magazine.
"We have not." Carver rolled his eyes crossing his arms over his chest.
"Really?" Sakura tilted her head in the cutest way possible as Carver tried to match her glare.
"Well-" Carver failed looking away from Sakura, "-you can't blame us."
"How so?" Sakura asked, I was amazed she looked so much like her normal self, seeing her now almost made me feel like for the past two weeks I had been staring at a stranger.
"I mean would you want to deal with them-?" Carver pointed towards us.
"Hey!" I defended.
"-they would have fought us every second if we tried to move around so we just...kinda..."
"Milked it." Sakura finished for him.
"Yeah..." Carver sighed. Sakura sighed shaking her head, but she didn't look mad, I honestly couldn't tell what she was thinking. Raiden stood from his bed and moved to stand a few feet from Sakura.
"Sakura." Raiden bowed his head. "I am ready for my punishment."
"Wait-!" I stood as did the others in the room, my heart flipped from the sudden fear that slammed against it.
"Don't-" Raiden told me and everyone else in the room. "-I deserve what is coming."
"But you-"
"Naruto." Raiden cut me off, I sighed shaking my head. This wasn't fair! Sakura stood from the hospital bed, I wanted to move and block her path but the thing about Sakura was...she was so amazing to be around; she gave me a high I didn't know could exist. She felt like-Sakura felt like you were standing on the top of a seventy-foot skyscraper without safety equipment, it was exciting and filled your body with a high you never wanted to come down from. But your standing sixty feet in the air on a beam without safety equipment to save you should you slip, and that fear was what kept me from running into Sakura's path.
Raiden had his arms behind his back and kept his down looking at the floor. My mouth dropped open as I watched Sakura extend her arms out and pull him into a hug, Sasuke and I looked at each other so confused!
"Sakura?" Raiden breathed.
"I'm sorry." She said, "I should have been able to-"
"No!" Raiden shook his head. "You did everything you should have done. You will not put what I failed to do on your shoulders. I deserve to be punished-"
"Fine." Sakura said, dropping my heart into the pit of my abdomen. Sakura pulled away from Raiden and looked at him. "You're stuck-on guard duty with Team Seven."
"Uh-What?" Raiden shook his head as Sakura laughed at his confused expression.
"I am not going to punish you Raiden everyone in your position would of hesitated, what I said when I came too...I was in a lot of pain and that isn't an excuse."
"You didn't hesitate." Raiden muttered,
"I know." Sakura said.
"Why-"
"Because I will kill anything that comes after my team." Sakura smiled, "Simple as that."
"Sakura..." Raiden breathed, pulling her into a tight embrace. Sakura flinched, causing Raiden to jump away with his arms out wide around her. Tsunade and Kakashi moved forward.
"It's fine." Sakura said calling off the four people surrounding her.
"But you-"
"I am still recovering so yeah I am fucking sore." Sakura playfully said at Raiden who looked sickened and scared. Tsunade walked up to Sakura quickly and pulled up her shirt, exposing her stomach as she examined her wounds. I felt myself drooling, Sakura had an amazing body.
"Amazing." Tsunade breathed, "It looks like your well a month into your recovery but your not..."
"She may have that poison in her system but she is so use to it, I think it only slows down her healing abilities now." Carver joked.
"You couldn't think to tell me that two weeks ago!?" Tsunade yelled, getting worked up.
It took two hours of yelling and debate for Tsunade to agree to allow Sakura, Carver and Raiden out of the hospital. Sakura claimed she didn't need to be taking up a bed from someone who may need it, she wasn't a fan of hospitals now I guess...I mean she use to work in one when she lived here but then again, she has drastically changed why did this one thing shock me so much?
To shut Tsunade up from nagging in Sakura's ear she agreed to Tsunade terms which were my team would crash with her at the apartment she has been using and watch her and the others, just to make sure they were as fine as they claimed to be.
I plopped on the couch watching everyone pile into the apartment, Sakura was the last in due to talking with Tsunade. Carver sat beside me as Raiden went on the hunt for food. I looked up from my phone seeing Sakura had closed the door and looking around at the five men looking at her. I give her twelve hours before she kills us all.
----
"Sakura." Sasuke spoke up, I looked over to him from the tv. "Can I ask you something?"
"Why not?" Sakura answered not looking up from her phone. "You're already talking." I loved her bitterness.
"You said as Raiden's punishment, he would be stuck on patrol with us..." I perked up hearing this information...yeah! She did say that!
"What about it?" Sakura responded.
"Does that mean you're going to be inside the Leaf Village for a while?" Sasuke questioned,
"I don't know about a while." Sakura said finally looking up from her phone, her eyes were so pretty.
"What are we talking about?" Carver asked walking towards us with a bag of chips in his hands.
"We are wondering if you guys will be hanging around here for a while." I caught him up, staring at Sakura waiting.
"Oh." Carver nodded, not really caring since he had food.
"Where are we going?" Raiden wondered. "Are you keeping us here or sending us somewhere-" Sakura cut in off with an annoyed sigh, her face didn't look too pleased either.
"I don't know how long a while will be, so I am not going to give you a number." Sakura looked more at me than anyone else, I felt like I was in trouble. "But you two can't go running around any time soon-"
"You guys said you were ok though!" I butted in, feeling worried now.
"We are fine Naruto." Sakura said for the tenth time today. "We don't need to be inside a hospital but traveling and getting into a fight is a different story."
"So..." I trailed off "You'll be here a while-"
"Those two will be here until they fully recover and can defend themselves." Sakura cut me off. "I already spoke to Tsunade about all this."
"What about you?" Sasuke asked,
"I may pop out every once and awhile, but you all know by now how my village works."
"They will try to..." I trialed off, not liking the thought about Sakura getting hunted all because of a job title.
"I don't need a bunch of my soldiers trying to attack me and then getting themselves killed." Sakura was confident in her abilities as ever. "Plus, the Reapers still want something from your village. Now that their attempt at taking me down as failed I am sure their next move will be to take whatever it is, they want from this place."
"So, you're going to be around." I summed up; Sakura sighed but a small smile rested on her lips.
"Yes." Sakura answered, making me want to jump up and hug her! "Which reminds me-" Sakura said, turning to look at Carver and Raiden. "-I will be bringing Dawn here tomorrow."
"Huh?" I looked away from the TV.
"Hm? What for?" Carver asked.
"Just to drop off a few things." Sakura said.
"Like..." Carver drew out.
"My favorite thing in the world." Sakura's voice was dripping with sarcasm.
"Paperwork!" Raiden guessed, laughing at Sakura's blank face.
"Oh yeah." Carver nodded, "That has probably been piling up."
"Yeah." Sakura halfway snapped. "Remind me a little more." I learned Sakura really didn't like paperwork.
"Where did Tsunade go?" I wondered, I thought she would hang out for at least a few hours.
"She went to the arena." Sakura answered, looking back at her phone.
"The arena?" Sasuke muttered. "Why?"
"Because she is collecting the team I had sent here, and I am going to send them back to the Waterfall Village." Sakura answered.
"Why?" I wondered, "Why is Tsunade doing that?"
"Because no one needs to know I am here." Sakura responded, "Therefore, I can't be the one to go get the team and send them back. I have my seal open and ready for them to be transported through."
"Why send them back?" Kakashi questioned, who was sitting beside Sakura. He lowered his little pervy book to look at her. I can't believe he was so open to reading that porn book around people!
"Because your village doesn't need them." Sakura answered.
"How so?" Kakashi counted.
"Because we're here." Sakura said looking up and into his one exposed eye, I looked over at Carver and Raiden they both had a smirk on their face. They looked so proud Sakura counted on them as much as she leaned on them...I wished Sakura would look at me like she looked at them...
----
I followed Carver and the others to the arena where Sakura's seal was placed where she would bring her second commander here. Raiden was walking beside me. I heard a crunch, so I turned to him lately every time I see this guy, he has some type of food in his hand. We got to the arena quickly, it was chilly out and I was hoping this wouldn't take long because I was already feeling cold. Carver said Sakura would meet us at her seal, I wonder where she went off too.
There were strange marks I have never seen before glowing in a bright circle. I looked at the dirt around it, I could still see traces of blood. Blood that belonged to Sakura, Carver and Raiden who entered the village through this seal barley escaping with their life's. Carver was looking down at the blood stains shaking his head.
"Man..." He muttered. "I'm sorry we put you guys through that."
"You didn't put us through anything." Sasuke's voice was stern, he and Carver had been getting close the past two weeks. Wind whipped around pulling my attention onto what was going on around me. I had to shield my eyes due to the massive force once the wind broke, I looked up and tilted my head confused.
"Kaguya." Tsunade glared taking a few steps closer. There stood Kaguya and three other people behind her, dressed in all black gear. They wore masks over their faces. I remember back when Raiden held that huge party for the leaf village, Sakura's friend Annora showed pictures of Sakura through the five years that she had been gone. I remember a picture of Sakura wearing that same gear, they belonged to the waterfall's black ops.
"Tsunade." Kaguya nodded her head. "Nice to meet you in person finally."
"I hadn't realized Sakura had a change of plans. She didn't tell me you would be coming instead of Dawn."
"Yes well, Sakura doesn't know I came instead. I can't really have my first and second commanders here in the Leaf Village, now can I?" Kaguya asked, "Besides..." Kaguya said, locking her eyes on Raiden. "There are punishments that are needed to be given out." In a heartbeat the three shinobi behind Kaguya jumped, grabbing Raiden. They moved so fast, I barely felt them slide past me!
"Raiden!" Carver yelled; he went to move but Kaguya demanded he stand put. Carver had a tight face, his eyes sharp as he did as told. I was confused, I thought he didn't work for Kaguya so why he listening to her? Why was Kaguya punishing Raiden?! Sakura already said she wasn't going to hold him to what happened in the iron village. How did she even know it was Raiden's fault to begin with!?
No one moved or said anything until Kaguya did.
"Now where is Sakura?" Kaguya said looking around at us. "Take me to her. I have to get her to the Waterfall Village." Tsunade glared at Kaguya who was watching the three masked shinobi push Raiden onto his knees and cuff him. Tsunade was about to open her mouth when I felt a crushing force wrap around my chest and squeeze. I looked over my shoulder and saw Sakura walking towards us, her long hair was pulled back and blowing in the wind as her face was twisted, revealing just how she was pissed off.
"Stand down!" Her voice called out, the raw power in her voice made my skin crawl.
"Sakura." Kaguya breathed, I saw joy spread across Kaguya's features. It looked strange on her face. So, Carver had been right Kaguya really did look to Sakura as a daughter. Sakura ignored Kaguya, instead her eyes were glaring at the three-ninja holding Raiden onto the dirt.
"Do not make me repeat myself." She said, glaring into their beings. The three didn't know what to do, they looked to Sakura than to Kaguya.
"They do not take orders from you, they take-" Kaguya tried to say,
"I said stand down!" Sakura spat. The three jumped up, ripping their hands-off Raiden's body. They stood at attention once on their feet, Kaguya looked taken back that the three black op shinobi listened to Sakura over Kaguya. Hell, I almost moved back at Sakura's voice. I swallowed the lump in my throat as Sakura walked past me and stood in front of the leader of the Waterfall Village. I thought Sakura was scary before she went missing years ago, but how she was now is a whole new level of terrifying.
"Get those handcuffs off him." Sakura ordered,
"No-" Kaguya tried to speak again,
"They take their orders from me." Sakura glared.
"But I am the-"
"Who do you think they are more afraid of?" Sakura asked, cutting Kaguya off again. "You or me?" My vote was on Sakura. "Do you want to tell me why the fuck your standing here and not Dawn?"
"What do you mean?" Kaguya asked looking around at our strange faces.
"I sent for Dawn."
"And I came in her place, anything you wanted her here for I can do."
"Oh, so you brought all the paperwork that I need to catch up on?" Sakura asked, her arms crossed over her chest.
"Paperwork?" Kaguya asked confused.
"That's why I sent for her!" Sakura glared. "She was going to bring me everything I needed!"
"You can just return home. You don't need anything to be brought here." Kaguya said.
"You know the moment I step into the village half the army will on me."
"You can take them-"
"Whether or not I could defend myself was never an issue, the fact that I don't want to have to kill half the fucking army is."
"I-" Kaguya stuttered.
"I swear to God if you don't get those handcuffs off him right now, you three will have me to deal with." Sakura ignored Kaguya and turned to the three shinobi who quickly scrambled to get the handcuffs off Raiden. Carver quickly pulled Raiden to his feet and pulled him behind me and Sasuke.
"He needs to be punished-" Kaguya glared past my head and at Raiden.
"You seem to have forgotten Kaguya." Sakura said stepping right up to Kaguya, she got right in her face." Raiden does not belong to the waterfall village; he belongs to me. You have no right to come to this village uninvited and illegally arresting people."
"But Sakura-" Kaguya started but got cut off by Sakura again, I looked behind Kaguya at the circle which started to glow again.
"Now get the fuck out of this village." Sakura said as she turned and walked away.
"Sakura-"
"I did not fucking stutter Kaguya!" Sakura snapped, "You have embarrassed yourself enough for one day, leave." I felt my mouth open in surprise when Kaguya did as told, she walked into the bright circle with the three black ops shinobi. Wind collected around them and after a moment the wind erupted, leaving an empty space.
"Hey-" Tsunade breathed, she caught Sakura before falling back. I moved forward quickly getting closer to Sakura as did everyone else.
"Are you ok?!" I yelled, feeling panicked. Sakura was breathing heavy like she had just won a race.
"I'm good." She breathed.
"You overdid it." Tsunade sighed, shaking her head.
"We should get her to bed." I said.
"I do not need to go to bed." Sakura told me, standing on her own after a moment she sighed. Even though she claimed to be fine she still looked tired. I wonder how much chakra she used bringing Kaguya here and then making her leave.
"Hey!" I looked up at the sound of Carver's voice. Sakura had taken a few steps away from our small group. "Where the hell are you going?!" He lectured, I think he agreed Sakura needed rest. "Sakura!" Carver called again seeing she was ignoring us. She stopped and turned to look at him,
"What?" She asked,
"Where are you-"
"I don't have to explain myself." Sakura answered as she vanished just like that. Carver groaned sounding very annoyed.
"That woman will be the death of me!" He grunted,
"I'm hungry." Raiden muttered.
"Me too." Carver sighed looking my way, I flinched a little when I saw he looked at me. "You up for some ramen?"
"Of course!" I jumped feeling super excited!
Carver, Raiden, Sasuke and I went to ichiraku ramen for lunch, it was fantastic! Carver and Raiden were really starting to open up to us and get to know us and the leaf village. Kiba and Lee swung by and joined us, after an hour and a half we got up and left ichiraku ramen. Kakashi was walking past us, his masked face in his book.
"Hey Kakashi!" Carver called, Kakashi looked up.
"Hm?" He hummed.
"You wanna come join us?" Carver questioned, I looked at him confused. I didn't know we were going someplace else.
"For?"
"If left alone for too long Sakura will work herself to death." Carver explained. "We are going to go scoop her up and feed her." Carver smiled; I raised an eyebrow feeling like he had something hidden motive we didn't know about.
"Sure-" Kakashi smiled with his eye closed, "-I'll tag along."
"Awesome-" Carver nodded, "-let's go." With that we all walked to the Hokage tower with a light conversation keeping me entertained. We walked up a flight of stairs, turned two corners and we were at the room Sakura had been using while stationed here with us. Carver open the door and instantly I heard Sakura's voice.
Shivers crawled down my arms hears the strong power laced through each of her letters. Her tone didn't scare Carver and Raiden who walked in anyway and plopped down at the end of the conference table. Carver saw my hesitation and smiled, waving me in. I sighed, closing the door and quickly sitting beside Sasuke.
"I am ordering you to return here at once!" Kaguya's voice turned my attention to the large screen against the wall across the room. Sakura stood in front of it, her arms crossed over her chest and looking very unpleased.
"I don't take fucking orders from you." Sakura said.
"Sakura-"
"And you should remember the reason why your standing where you are right now." Sakura added, I glanced at Sasuke who looked just as concerned as I did.
"This is ridiculous Sakura, you need-"
"I don't need you to tell me how to do my fucking job as if you're doing yours." Sakura snapped,
"I am doing-"
"What Kaguya?" Sakura cut her off, "What job have you been doing? Because last time I checked I am the one running the fucking village and you're just sitting back reaping in the benefits while I work my ass off."
"This is a conversation we need to have in private." Kaguya said.
"No, it isn't." Sakura quickly responded, walking to the table where her laptop sat, "Because I am done with it."
"Sakura, this isn't over."
"Um...yeah it is." Sakura said, "Dawn do you have everything under control?"
"Yes Commander." The woman behind Kaguya nodded, it seemed Sakura was having a conversation with Dawn when Kaguya interrupted. With that answer Sakura ended the call and closed the laptop.
"So how did it go?" Carver smiled, earning him an annoyed look.
"What did Dawn say?" Raiden wondered.
"Not much-" Sakura looked really annoyed, probably because of Kaguya. "-Before we were interrupted-" Ah, I was right. "-She said the Reapers have surrounded the Waterfall Village."
"Looking for you?" I asked.
"Yeah." Sakura sighed rubbing her neck. She looked really stressed out and I didn't like it.
"Alright." Carver stood, "Let's go."
"Go?" I asked.
"It looks like you need a drink-" Carver said to Sakura, "-and I could use one too." Carver smile at me and winked.
"You guys go-" Sakura started, looking at the computer. I felt disappointed she wasn't going to come with us.
"Nope." Carver shook his head, he walked over and wrapped and arm around her. "You're coming whether you like it or not."
"Are you going to make me?" Sakura asked her tone was flat, but her eyes sparkled like they did she was amused by something.
"If I must, I will make team seven take you on." Carver smirked, she turned and looked at us. For a moment her eyes masked that of a wild tiger, I felt fear as a questioned nagged itself in my brain. If I ever had to go up against Sakura, who would win?
"Already having them do your dirty work?" Sakura turned back to Carver.
"What...?" Carver trailed off. "No..." He smiled, "Come on, it'll be fun. Do you remember what fun is?" Carver teased.
"No." Sakura answered.
"Come on buzz kill." Raiden jumped up, moving towards them.
"Drinks are on me." Carver said,
"And I will buy you food." Raiden added with a chuckle seeing Sakura's eyes light up at the sound of food, she was so freaking adorable!
"I'm not a buzz kill." Sakura muttered to herself causing me to smile as she allowed Carver and Raiden to pull her out of the conference room.
----
Sakura was sitting on the couch in her borrowed apartment eating a burger. Fries and a large coke were sitting in her lap as she watched TV, she looked very entertained by the zombies on the screen. Carver muttered how she loved zombie and virus type of movies.
I learned Sakura also loved sweets, which was different than what I knew. Before she went missing Sakura hated sugar, coke was her favorite thing to drink but if not watched she will drink a twenty-four pack of coke without even trying. I saw how Carver and Raiden looked out for Sakura in different ways than she looked out for them.
They had each other's backs and they knew so much about each other...I wanted that with her, to know what she was thinking without her having to tell me.
Carver was in the kitchen; they just returned from the store and was mixing a bunch of different liquids together. I peeked over the back of the couch as my stomach turned just looking at all the types of alcohol they were putting into the punch. I was going to die tonight for sure.
Turning back around looking at Sakura as I did so, I think this was the first time I seen her this laid back. I loved seeing her take charge and seeing how powerful she really was and as much as that side of her enticed me, it was refreshing to see there was still a person under her commander title.
"Here." I looked up; a blue solo cup was in my face. I took it without question and inside was a deep red liquid.
"What's in it?" I wondered,
"Just drink it." Carver said, handing Sakura the same blue cup.
"But-" I saw how much liquor they put into this, I knew the second I took a sip my throat was going to burn, and my face was going to scrunch together. I didn't want to look stupid in front of Sakura I looked back at her and did a double take. She was drinking from the cup, her eyes never leaving the TV screen and her face remained so pretty. I looked back the drink in my hand, I took a breath and raised the rim to my lips. It was sweet and tasted like fruit punch, I was surprised.
"Good isn't it?" I jumped, seeing Carver had been behind me the entire time watching me. "Big Baby." Carver laughed walking away.
"Er...thanks." I muttered into the cup refusing to look up as I felt my face heat feeling embarrassed. Kakashi was sat in between Sakura and me. I grumped, not liking this. Sasuke and the other two were on the floor. Everyone was quiet as the movie played itself out it was a good movie, but this was one of those rare times Sakura was here, and I wanted to talk to her! I was about to die; it took forty-five minutes of this movie to end!
The credits rolled onto the screen and Raiden jumped up to turn the lights on. Carver got up to refill his glass. I stood from the couch, having to pee when the room bounced confusing me.
"Whoa." Raiden laughed, gripping my shoulder balancing me on my feet. I realized my body felt numb, "You ok?" I nodded my head at Raiden.
"Ah, maybe I made it to strong." Carver laughed coming into my view beside Raiden.
"Wha-?" My brain giggled.
"I think you did." Sakura said standing, walking over and looking to my eyes. I felt my heart picking up and my face felt hot.
"You have had like twice the amount Naruto as had." Sasuke said, Sakura turned hearing him talking to her. "You seem fine."
"Yeah Sakura is a pain to get drunk." Carver said, sitting me back on the couch.
"I am not." Sakura defended.
"You can out drink Raiden and me." Carver looked at her,
"She cannot." Raiden perked up.
"Not this again." Carver shook his head.
"What?" I didn't understand what was going on. Carver sighed, plopping next to me on the couch.
"Just watch." He whispered, leaning on me I could smell his cologne. I blush and quickly shook my head.
"Sakura-!" Raiden yelled, causing Sakura to roll those pretty bright emerald eyes of hers. Raiden bounced onto the living room with a bottle of clear liquor of tequila. "I challenge you!" He jumped as he posed himself, pointing at her dramatically.
"No." Sakura said sitting back down beside Kakashi. I wanted to sit next to her...
"What?" Raiden whined. "Why not?" He cried.
"Because you'll die." Sakura said,
"I am not dealing with drunk you." Carver added,
"I am not going to die!" Raiden pouted, "And I will not be drunk, because I am going to win!"
"You do this every time we drink together, and you always lose." Carver said.
"I do not!"
"Yes, you do, you just get too drunk to remember it." Carver explained.
"You're not in this." Raiden brushed Carver off who rolled his eyes as his response. "Sakura if you accept then I will go on patrol with no argument."
"You already have to do patrol." Sakura said, sipping her blue cup. How did she look so cute doing something so simple?
"But I said without a fight." Raiden added, "And I will do whatever paperwork you don't want to do as long as I understand it and know how to do it." I saw that sparked Sakura's interest. I learned she hated doing paperwork.
"Alright." Sakura sighed agreeing.
"Yay!" Raiden cheered running into the kitchen, I looked back at Sakura and instantly hated how close Kakashi was to her. His arm was on the back of the couch behind Sakura, he was basically holding her!?
"Here." Raiden popped back up tossing Sakura a clear shot glass which she caught with ease. She sighed, moving to the floor and leaned against the couch as Raiden pushed up the coffee table. I saw salt and cut up limes on plates. The two sat across from each other. "Carver!" Raiden signaled for him to do something.
"Nope." He shook his head, "I'm not in this one." He said
"Please!" Raiden whined. Carver took in a chest full of air and sighed standing.
"I hate you." He said sitting on the floor, taking the bottle and poured two shots. "After a few shots Raiden won't be able to pour shit and if Sakura does it, he feels like she is cheating." Carver explained seeing my confused face.
"Oh." I nodded understanding.
"Sasuke, why don't you move on the couch?" Carver said, Sasuke was sitting on his phone behind Raiden. "Trust me, you don't want to be there." Carver laughed, Sasuke looked at Raiden and quickly jumped up. Kakashi moved over and Sasuke sat beside me.
My eyes narrowed as I felt annoyed. Kakashi was right behind Sakura, his legs on both sides of her and she looked completely unaffected! She was just watching Raiden try to trash talk. I hate to admit she looked cute when she was entertained.
"Do you guys do this a lot?" Sasuke wondered.
"Nah." Carver shrugged, "Not anymore."
"Anymore?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow. My eyes were locked onto Sakura, she licked the area by her thump and shook the saltshaker over it, she grabbed a lime and waited for Raiden to copy her. I watched the two lick the salt on their hands, they both tapped the shot glasses on the table before shooting them, and then bit into the lime.
Carver shrugged as Sakura laughed at him. They slide their shot glasses over to Carver who simply shook his head and poured another round. I watched Sakura and Raiden take three more shots as I sipped my blue cup of sweet punch. Sakura turned to me; my heart fluttered at her sight.
"You guys want to join?" She asked,
"What?" I asked taken off guard.
"Come on." She nodded with her head, "It'll be fun." I did not like tequila and my body moved anyway, sliding down until I was sitting next to Sakura.
"Ugh." Carver sighed standing. "Guess I'm a fucking bartender tonight." He muttered. "Sasuke come help me!" Carver ordered, Sasuke sighed but got up anyway. I felt happy to be sitting beside Sakura, it didn't take Carver and Sasuke long to return with another bottle of tequila, more salt and limes. Sasuke sat beside me as Carver began pouring.
"How about you Kakashi?" Sakura asked, looking behind her. I didn't like how she leaned on his leg as she spoke to him.
"Hm?" He asked looking up from his book, why was he even here if all he was going to do is read?
"Are you going to join us?" Sakura smirked, I looked from her and Kakashi realizing she was taunting him, and he would have to remove his mask in order to play the game!
"Come on Kakashi!" I smiled, "It's going to be fun!"
"Oh, hell no!" Carver said looking up from his task. "I am not babysitting all of you, I need at least one other sober adult here!"
"I guess that will be me." Kakashi said with his closed eye smile. I sighed; Carver ruined it. Sakura shrugged and turned back around as we all grabbed the shots. I copied Sakura I licked the salt on my hand, tipped my head back and allowed the shot to pour into my mouth.
I wanted to swallow it quickly and bite the lime which Sakura was already doing but my throat said no, it closed itself not allowing the horrible tasting substance to enter my body. The tequila burned my throat as I forced it down, I coughed feeling the tequila coming back up with a vengeance as it flew up in my nose. My eyes watered as I began coughing.
"Naruto?" Sasuke asked,
"Are you dying?" Carver laughed.
"Hey-" I heard Sakura, no! I didn't want her to see me like this, I could feel my level of coolness depleting as I coughed struggling to breathe. I felt a hand patting my back as it helped me regain control over my breathing. I opened my eyes and saw a blue cup, I quickly grabbed it and chugged it with my eyes closed. I sighed feeling better as I opened my eyes I froze.
Sakura was right in front of me, her long pink hair flowed down touching my crossed legs. She had a smile playing on her lips, "You good?" She asked, she had been the one helping me. I quickly shook my head wishing I could melt through the flooring. Carver, Raiden and Sasuke were laughing at me, my face was hot as I refused to look Sakura's way.
"You sure you want to continue?" Carver asked me, I felt stupid. Maybe I should sit with Kakashi and just watch...
"Leave him alone." Sakura said, I quickly looked at her surprised.
"We are just teasing him." Raiden smiled; Sakura rolled her eyes.
"Oh ok." Sakura smirked, leaning against the couch. "Naruto you remember Brasle?"
"No!" Carver and Raiden said together, glaring at Sakura who just brushed them off.
"One night-" Sakura started against the two's objections. "-Carver was so plastered and there was this woman there that he had been trying to hook up with for a couple nights now. So, in his head Carver thought it would be a good idea to split an Oreo in half, stick them to his nipples and say and I quote 'I'll be your late-night snack', when I tried to help him and get them off he refused, called them his lucky cookie tits and he walked around for hours." I busted out laughing,
"No way!" I laughed,
"Yup." Sakura smiled looking at Carver who was glaring at her. "What?" She asked him, "I'm just teasing you." I looked at Sakura and realized I loved this woman.
"It wasn't that funny." Carver grumped.
"It kinda was." Raiden said.
"Oh, you thought that was funny?" Sakura asked,
"No!" Raiden jumped.
"OK." Sakura smiled, looking at me. "The same night Carver was walking around terrorizing women, I found Raiden in a stranger's kitchen with a case of stolen pineapples that he 'saved'. He was stabbing a pineapple screaming at SpongeBob to come out and play."
"You did not!" I laughed.
"Eh..." Raiden muttered, looking off into the distance as if he was reliving that moment.
"Fuck you-" Carver pointed at Sakura, "-that same party you vanished and woke up in a fucking drainpipe." I looked at Sakura, waiting for her to deny the statement.
"Yeah I did." Sakura smiled; my mouth dropped open. "But at least I had all my own clothes on." She smiled leaning on the coffee table, challenging them to continue.
"We need to stop drinking." Carver looked so defeated as I laughed with Sasuke.
"True." Sakura smirked leaning back against the couch.
"We are still going to do more shots though right?" Raiden asked,
"Of course." Carver said pouring more tequila.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone