Two Back, One Gone
Prologue: Two Back, One Gone
D. A. Nico

"Hokage-sama!"

Tsunade only had enough time to glance up and wince at the power put into opening the door and wondered vaguely how it managed to stay on its hinges as it flew into the wall behind it. However, that concern was knocked much farther down the list as she looked up to a red-faced Shizune who was panting for breath as if she'd run the entire way here.

"Shizune-san… what's wrong?" she asked, continuing to sit behind her desk without a thought of getting up.

Shizune, while loyal, had a knack for overreacting towards things that could very easily wait another couple days. Or maybe it was Tsunade's lack of worry towards those things that made it seem unimportant. Either way, Tsunade wasn't prepared for what came next.

"Tsunade-sama, they've returned! Naruto and Jiraiya-sama, even Sasuke! All three of them together!" she squealed. The woman was absolutely exuberant which resulted in Tonton leaping off her bed and emitting confused, but excited squeals.

The sudden commotion in her office made her head spin; it was quite possibly also a little help from the sake that she'd been constantly taking sips out of as well. Right now, she'd wished that she'd drank another couple bottles. She didn't need this rush of information at the moment, but she found that she was cracking a smile at the thought of them returning.

"Is Uchiha Sasuke being brought against his will?" she asked Shizune skeptically.

"No, it was reported by one of the ANBU he was coming unbound." She paused, thinking before remaining silent. Tsunade could literally see Shizune bouncing on the balls of her feet in anticipation.

All of Konoha had learned of Naruto's last mission, which was to go after Sasuke and try to persuade him to come back to Konoha. If Sasuke were to adamantly refuse then Naruto was supposed to kill him. Having Sasuke alive had been too much of a risk to her village for her to take comfort in the fact that, at some point in the past Orochimaru's original plan to destroy the Leaf would be taken into effect.

Nodding her head, she knitted her hands together with a small frown on her lips and a crinkle in her brow, she glanced up to Shizune who was anxiously waiting for an answer. "Fine then, bring the three of them to me the moment they're in the gates." Even before she could flick her hand to dismiss her apprentice there was only a fading smoke cloud in her previous spot.

A small sigh of relief gushed from her lungs as she visibly drooped a little in her seat, as if a large weight had finally been removed from her shoulders. So much had happened in the last couple of years that having one of the biggest dilemmas come to an end was more then a relief, at least temporarily.

She could easily recall all the memories and urgent things in her memory from the past couple years. Every memory had powerful emotions to it. Some had happiness, but many had tears and remorse to go along with it. She only hoped that this was a sign from some far greater power that things were beginning to wrap themselves up in this nightmare inducing saga.

Fifteen minutes had passed since she got the report that the three shinobi were heading back into the village. It had been estimated for them to reach the gates in roughly twenty minutes, and every second closer to that time was another knock up the pole until Tsunade's agitation got the best of her.

Sake was also a heavy influence towards her jittery mood, but she wasn't about to admit that to everyone around her. Even if they all did know that no matter what mood she was in, it was influenced by the alcoholic drink. Ignorance is bliss after all.

Golden eyes flitted over towards the forehead protector that lay on her book case. Its metal reflected the light of the setting sun, and with a heavy heart Tsunade turned away from the small treasure that she had obtained two years ago.

Two delicate hands reached up to untie the protector from her head before she very slowly handed it over towards the Hokage.

Tsunade stared in amazement as her apprentice stared back calmly. She wasn't so sure if she was willing to take it from her. "You're giving up your loyalty to the Leaf?" she asked in anger, disbelief and amazement.

The pink haired kunoichi almost smiled - something that very hardly graced the young girl's lips these days. Slowly, they opened to talk. "Tsunade-sama…," she started, bowing her head low in deep respect for her teacher, "my entire life, besides the few missions I have been sent on, has been behind these walls. I love this village with all my heart as well as the people in it, however…"

The hesitation in Haruno Sakura's voice made Tsunade's heart jump into her throat.

"However, these walls also bring the continuous painful memories of many people lost to me. Sa-," she stuttered, almost in pain, "Sasuke has left this place in search of power from the snake, Naruto has left with Jiraiya-sama once more to gain even more strength, and here I am sitting at home hoping and dreaming. Dreams come to an end when the sun rises and hope can be shattered in a millisecond," she concluded before taking another breath. "Tsunade-shishou, I am not here to resign my loyalties to your land, but I am merely here to offer you something in return for your acceptance when I come back."

Tsunade's eyes widened with realization about what the green-eyed girl had just said. "Wait, what are you saying?" she asked stupidly.

Sakura gently set the forehead protector on the older woman's desk. "When I come back to the Leaf offer me this head piece and we will see where my loyalties continue to lie, but for now I cannot remain here and pray that my team comes back to me."

Tsunade noticed a light in Sakura's eyes that had been long diminished. Now she understood; this was a mission created by the girl's mind. It was possibly something she needed to do and Tsunade knew this. However, her attached heart screamed at her to stop the dumb girl as she turned to leave.

She wanted to grab her by the shoulders and scream that this was all the sadness and desperation talking. That she wasn't allowed to leave and if she did she would have her locked up for years. Despite this, she didn't move from her seat nor did she utter a word or sound as the door closed.

The clicking brought her back to the present world as she whispered very gently, "Good luck…."

It was all she could offer from there on out.

The ever present knocking brought Tsunade back to the matter at hand. She couldn't show sadness at the moment. So, as the shinobi rule that she learned long ago had stated, she locked her biggest emotions up and placed on a more serene face as she got up from her desk to approach the window. "Come in…" she offered before looking out onto the Hidden Leaf Village.

A small group of people were congregating near the tower's doors in hopes of seeing either the kyubi vessel or the Uchiha traitor. Either way, the quiet scuffling of six feet made her smirk before backing away from the window, "Quite a crowd you all bring." She praised before turning around to take in the sight of the three.

Naruto had grown even more. His yellow hair must have gone unclipped for a couple weeks because it now hung a little lower then she'd last remembered. She couldn't believe how much he looked like the fourth Hokage. It was almost scary. He'd kept his trademark orange and black clothing as well as that idiotic smile. He was still very much the same. Despite the fact that she could tell he was stronger and that his personality maybe, just maybe was a little bit more mature then before, nothing truly struck out at her.

Next in line was a face she never expected to see again. Well, at least not alive. With nearly all of the Akatsuki dead including his older brother Itachi, Sasuke seemed a little more open and less tense then before. Just like Naruto, he had kept his trademark black attire; however he'd matured a little with his clothing style. His hair was still kept in the random spiked style that she could have sworn wasn't natural when she'd first seen a picture of him. All in all he looked in control and non-hostile, and that had been her biggest worry; and still was.

Then there was Jiraiya, and well... Jiraiya was Jiraiya and nothing would change that. He was still gray in the hair, he was still aging with grace and he was still a pervert, but his travels for the last two years with these two was enough to assure Tsunade that nothing was going to get overly out of hand. She would get a full report from him over some drinks later. For now she had hardly anything to say.

The three looked at her and remained quiet - surprising since Naruto was usually loud enough to cover for any number of people.

Her golden eyes glittered towards Sakura's forehead protector.

'If you had only stayed a couple more years you could be here with me…,' she thought sadly before reaching up to scratch her cheek in thought. Maybe that would have been a little too hard on Sakura.

"Welcome back to Konoha," she started, not quite sure where this would go. She hadn't thought to practice a speech of any kind, she hadn't expected to need one. She'd come to a horrible conclusion that it was most likely that Naruto would fail. She'd deemed the mission a lost cause, and the guilt for burying that hope settled in her throat.

Her eyes softened as she began, "We're all very tired I see, so go home and rest up for a couple days. You two," she said pointing at the younger two of the three men, "I shouldn't have to say this but don't leave the village. Naruto your mission is done but Sasuke you'll be put on strict probation until the council decides on a plan of action. Be happy we won't throw you in jail for the time being."

Sasuke automatically nodded his head. She hoped his cooperation was an attempt to show her he was ready to start anew. He'd destroyed his brother just as he had promised himself, and now it was time to start the Uchiha clan all over again.

Naruto, expectantly, offered a cheesy grin and scratched the back of his head. "It's so great to be back you old hag!" he laughed, his happy demeanor coming off in waves as he tried to infect the people around him with his joyful behavior.

Tsunade couldn't help but smirk. For that little comment on her age she would sooner or later give Naruto a well earned flick to the head. For now she glanced out the window at the falling sun, "You are to meet Kakashi at the training grounds in two days with the last member of your temporary team. Temporary meaning until Sasuke's situation has been dealt with. This is just to see if we all still remember how to be Leaf shinobi." She could almost hear the grin forming on Naruto's face as she eyed Sasuke down threateningly.

"You're dismissed. Don't cause trouble!" she snarled the last couple words as her eyes traveled to Naruto then to Sasuke and lastly to Jiraiya.

Naruto nodded his head and turned to leave with Sasuke following behind. The words she heard next made Tsunade want to go screaming after him as he announced, "I can't wait to see Sakura's face when she sees the two of us are back!"

By the time Tsunade had looked back Jiraiya was gone and Shizune had weaseled her way back into the office. "Tsunade-sama, why didn't you tell them about Sakura-san?" she asked with a worried frown on her face.

Tsunade looked over towards her apprentice and then went to sit back down at her desk. "Shizune… there are some things even the Hokage cannot say. I think it would be best for them to either figure it out themselves or for Kakashi to tell them. Either way, it was not my place and I don't think this was the time." She simply stated before going back to her paperwork, halting all continuation of the topic with that simple gesture.

Author's Note:

TBOG Revamp on its way! A little Christmas gift surprise.
I'm also looking for a Beta.
Enjoy!