Shukuya

Chapter 6

Being away from Naruto is the hardest part of this mission, Sakura mused. She wondered how his mission was going. Like hers, it was an A ranked so she wasn't too worried, but she couldn't help being a little bit.

Sakura glanced over to Yamato taichou, who had two other shinobi immobilized. These guys were rumored to be more remnants of the Akatsuki; they were going to try to take them alive so they could be interrogated. The Akatsuki had to be eliminated, they were a threat to all the ninja countries- a poison that must be cleansed from the world. For almost any other enemy some mercy might be extended, but the Akatsuki deserved none.

Yamato found it hard to believe that Sakura had been weak at taijustu as a Genin. She had taken down three near elite ninja in less than a minute. No one could deny she was elite now, in every way. Soon she would likely exceed the Hokage on all skill levels- all from her own efforts.

"That's the last of them." Sakura said as she gave another shinobi a blow that rendered him unconscious.

"Let's head back. I'll send a message to the Hokage." Yamato launched a messenger bird.

Naruto took off his shirt and tossed it into the basket. He grinned, Sakura chan had him trained. She hated his tendency to toss his dirty clothes on the floor and not bother to pick it up until he had a full load to wash.

The third day after Sakura moved in this basket was on the floor and firm note was on his nightstand, in the bathroom, and in the kitchen. He got the picture, and from then on tried his best to remember. He'd even written himself a note about it. That had earned him a kiss, which soon led to more exciting things… Naruto leered, then frowned, knowing she wouldn't be back home tonight. He hoped it was going well and she was coming home right now. He was glad his mission was over and he could get out of those gross feeling clothes.

That shirt reeked. It had been an awful mission- not so much what he and Kakashi sensei had to do, it was just a fairly normal A level spy mission, but it involved days slogging through mud and an algae choked creek. A few times they had to quickly drop into the muck, much to Naruto's disgust. Naruto grimaced at the memory and at having to write a mission report. He hated those. It was so much easier to write one when he and Sakura chan were on a mission. She let him read hers, it helped him figure out how to write his. Baasama knew it, and groused at how lousy his mission reports were when he went on missions without Sakura.

"So just send me with her all the time." He'd said with a grin.

Tsunade smirked, "Would make it easier on me." Then she sighed, " No, you need to learn how to write these better on your own. As Hokage, it's not just things you have to read and sign, you'll have to write plenty of things too, and do it well. The best way to learn how to do that is continuing to write. Reading Sakura's reports can help you learn how to write better reports. Next time, don't just look at what she writes, but how she writes."

"How she writes?"

Tsunade sighed. Naruto wasn't exactly stupid, but sometimes you had to hunt hard how to tell him things so they'd sink in. Maybe it was how the bijuu was put in as a newborn, maybe it had damaged his brain in some fashion. Certainly Minato and Kushina had grasped things easier than their son did.

"I don't understand."

"Hmm, let me try again." Maybe if I break it down into steps and teach him one point at a time…. "Okay, the first step might be to break your report down into days. Tell me everything mission related you remember from each day. For now just do that. You might want to get a small notebook to take on missions and write down when you stop for a rest."

"Sakura chan does that."

Tsunade smiled, so he had noticed that even if he hadn't done it. Sakura wrote her notes in code. It was a bit of risk to not tell Naruto to do this yet, but one step at a time.

Kakashi wrote out his mission report. He paused and thought on how Naruto reminded him more and more of Minato sensei. He sighed, that both awed him and saddened him. It brought back painful memories, as did the now obvious romance between Naruto and Sakura.

"Kakashi, I think you know of my sensei, Jiraiya. He is one of the legendary three of our village. I've asked him to take over your jonin training. I'm going to be Hokage now." Minato smiled, but his eyes were shadowed with sadness. "I'm sorry I cannot train you any longer, but Jiraiya sensei is the best teacher you could ever have, better than me."

"Hi kid." Jiraiya grinned at Kakashi. "I hear you have all kinds of talent, wonder if you can face up to a Sannin."

That had been his introduction to Jiraiya. Team Minato had broken apart after Obito's death, each member placing the blame on themselves. Minato sensei for leaving them behind in a situation that had been more dangerous than he'd realized. Rin blamed herself, because she hadn't been a good enough fighter to get away, she got kidnapped, and that led to Obito's death in the rescue. Kakashi blamed himself for being too cocky, his decision led to Obito's death.

Each surviving member had ended up withdrawing from the others. Rin stopped going on missions and became strictly a medic nin at Konoha hospital. That didn't save her from a violent death, though. Just one year later she died in the Kyuubi attack, on the field trying to heal injured shinobi. The Kyuubi killed her and all the shinobi around her, including Iruka's parents. Minato sensei died that night as did the woman he loved, Kushina Uzumaki.

Kakashi felt a wave of shame over the way he had acted toward her. He had hated Kushina Uzumaki for taking his sensei away. He placed all the blame on her, not understanding at the time that she had been not only Minato's lover, but his healer. She had brought him back from the despair and guilt over Obito's death. It hadn't been Kushina's fault that Minato had chosen not to teach him anymore.

He had been just as guilty with his choice not to associate with Rin anymore. He knew of her feelings for him, but felt he did not deserve Rin. Obito should have been with her. Then a year later she was gone too, and he still regretted not telling her that he didn't blame her for Obito's death. He blamed himself.

Seeing the growing mutual love between Naruto and Sakura had filled him with envy. He'd never had a love like that. He realized now, that his actions as their team leader since Naruto's return, had been negatively colored by that envy. He would separate them again and again.

He didn't think Naruto had caught on why, but he had a suspicion Sakura had. She started to look unhappy when he was their team leader, while she smiled when Yamato was. It was when they were assigned to ANBU that he finally realized what he had been doing. He was envious of what they had, just like he had been of his sensei and Kushina Uzumaki. Around Naruto he could restrain that envy but with Sakura, even during her ANBU training it colored his every reaction.

He should withdraw from Naruto and Sakura's lives before he caused a greater rift between them and himself. They didn't need any training or guidance from him anymore, anyway. He'd ask the Hokage if he could now resume regular Jonin status, clearly his students were now all top of the elite shinobi. Even Naruto was now completely capable of being an ANBU leader or, he smiled fondly, Hokage. Kakashi knew now, Naruto's "impossible dream" was clearly in his reach. Even he was confident now, Naruto would be Hokage, and soon. He'd enjoy watching Naruto and Sakura achieve their goals, from a distance. It was time to let go anyway, let them stand on their own feet as elite shinobi.

Then he thought of his third student, the one, as a Genin, had been in his every thought. He knew more of the Uchiha history than Sasuke had at the time, and had kept that from him, hoping it would save him from the Uchiha curse of mental instability. A curse that had afflicted every Uchiha he knew, save Obito. It turned out Sasuke fell to that affliction anyway. But somehow Naruto and Sakura had dragged him back from the final abyss. Sasuke did still need him, Kakashi thought. He needed Naruto and Sakura too, and on a much deeper level than he needed Kakashi, but there were still things Kakashi could do for Sasuke as a teacher. Naruto and Sakura had given him something to stand against the howling madness but Kakashi could teach him how to rebuild himself from bottom up. Kakashi had struggled with that after he had lost everyone that had been precious to him in the space of a year, and still dealing with the shame over his father taking his own life. Sasuke would have to rebuild his life somewhat like he had to- twice. He sighed, Obito had the outrage he should have had, over the way his father had been shamed into total emotional destruction. The Hatake clan had been shunned and disgraced over his father valuing his teammates over the mission. The mission failure had proven to have devastating consequences, even thet eam mates he had saved, his old Genin teammates, shunned him.

Kakashi, instead of being angry at Konoha, had while his fathered declined felt shame, and after his suicide, directed his anger at his father. He turned cold and rigidly followed the rules. He pushed himself relentlessly trying to erase the shame on the Hatake clan he felt his father had brought on it. Obito's death had shook him to the core. Then when Rin, and his sensei had died the next year, he had resolved to make sure no one he ever was on a team would die on account of something he should or should not have done. While he was no longer seen as cold, he was regarded as someone who was very private.

Probably the only person in Konoha who could read him well was Jiraiya. It was because of the bond they developed after the Kyuubi attack. Both had been in grief, both had a close bond to Minato Namikaze, one as sensei the other as student. Jiraiya had coped with the loss the same way he always did, indulging even more in his known vices. Kakashi wasn't into the peeping stuff, but the erotic novels Jiraiya wrote had been the perfect escape. He had been underage for the novels then, but Jiraiya had scoffed at the age limit when he saw Kakashi's enthusiastic interest. "You're old enough, kid." He'd grinned.

Kakashi chuckled. He didn't think porn novels were quite right for the harmless escape outlet for Sasuke. Certainly not the heterosexual ones Jiraiya wrote. Plus, he doubted Sasuke was of the temperament to have the patience to read a novel on any subject. However, He'd been surprised that Naruto had been so taken with Jiraiya's only non pornographic novel, the same novel his sensei had called his favorite book…. But no, if he thought on it, he could see where the right type novel might draw Naruto, but Sasuke, never, too impatient, and his sense of wonder was too low, he'd regard it as a time waster, nothing more. Kakashi sighed, Sasuke may have to discover his escape valve on his own. But he could talk to him at least. Naruto and Sakura had brought him to the point that now others could help him. Kakashi knew he was one of those people.

The next morning Sakura and Yamato retuned from their mission. A larger ANBU team had taken the presumed low level Akatsuki into custody. Sakura was looking forward to being in a nice warm bed with Naruto tonight. She blushed lightly at that thought, and her lips were turned up in a dreamy smile.

Yamato looked knowingly at Sakura, "He'll probably meet you at the gate."

"And treat me to Ichiraku ramen." She giggled.

Less than a kilometer from Konoha's gates they had met up with Sasuke, Sai and Ino who had been returning from their mission.

"Hey!" Sakura shouted a greeting.

Ino smiled weakly. Sakura could tell something bad had happened on the mission.

"S ranked mission" Sasuke supplied, his expression grim.

Sai nodded, "A lot like your first one."

"Oh crap." Sakura ran over and hugged Ino.

"I shouldn't have doubted you about the nightmares, Sakura. I think I'll have ones about this mission the rest of my life."

"It's okay. Come on, I'll treat you to whatever you want to eat and we can spend the rest of the day at your parents' flower shop."

"But the debriefing…"

"She'll understand, you can do it tomorrow. Sasuke and Sai can take care of what needs to be done today."

"I'll take your mission report to the Hokage, Sakura."

Sakura handed her report to Yamato, and he walked on ahead of them. Sasuke and Sai followed him.

"But Naruto will probably want to be with you, Sakura." Ino protested weakly.

"it's alright, he'll understand. If we go to Ichiraku he'll probably come along." Sakura smiled.

"Ichiraku sounds okay. I don't want to look at barbecue right now…"

Sakura hugged Ino again. "Okay, lets go there."

When they reached the gate Naruto was waiting, but instead of the enthusiastic greeting he had been anticipating making, his expression was solemn. Sasuke and Sai had briefly explained the situation when they arrived at the gate.

"We're going to Ichiraku, Naruto, want to come along?"

"Sure." Naruto kept his tone neutral, but he couldn't hold back a smile.

Ino slowly felt herself coming back to normal a bit after being around Naruto and Sakura for a while. They had recovered from the shock of an S rank mission, so could she. She waited patiently with a faint smile as Naruto and Sakura shared a quick but passionate kiss. Naruto went off to pick up some things from the grocery that they needed, while Sakura and Ino continued on toward the Yamanaka Flower Shop.

"Mom will be glad to see both of us, bet she'll have us working in fifteen minutes." Ino commented as the three strolled toward Ichiraku's

Sakura laughed, Ino's mom definitely was like that. Sakura didn't mind it though. While she wasn't quite as in love with flowers as Ino was, she found being around them pleasurable. Working around flowers was a nice change from either missions or hospital work. Of course Sakura couldn't help mentally categorizing the plants into useful and just pleasing to the eye or the nose. Ino didn't mind talking about that, having had medical training too, but Ino's mom found it annoying. She claimed it turned off customers. Sakura grinned.

Ino's mom would pay her for the occasional help with the current hourly wage for shop clerks and a gift of whatever plant or bunch of flowers caught her eye. Naruto would love that, especially if it was a potted plant.

Naruto had a love for potted plants like Ino had for cut flowers with strong scents. Naruto tended to prefer non flowering plants, just lots of leafy growth. Sakura liked scentless flowering plants and had introduced a couple of small ones into the apartment since she moved in. She was looking forward to seeing their blooms this coming spring. But this time she'd bring home a plant she'd already noticed. It looked healthy but had become rather messy in it's shape. It couldn't be cutback without harming it at this time of year.

Sakura knew it wouldn't sell, but Naruto would love it. The plant had some herbal properties too so she could get some benefit come late spring when it would be time to trim it back. The stems and leaves both could be used for medical purposes. The leaves also made a kind of soothing tea when steeped in hot water.

Naruto strolled into the shop while they were still working. He grinned at them and said,

"Decided I could be useful too."

Ino's mother smiled brightly, overhearing from the work room. She walked out, brushing the dirt from her hands. "I could use some help moving these saplings into the showroom."

"Sure!"

Naruto enjoyed the work, and having both Sakura and Ino watching him work, especially Sakura. He didn't mind Ino looking at him appreciatively, only when she occasionally leered in his direction did it make him uncomfortable. Now when Sakura chan leered at him that was a completely different story, he loved it, but it made him horny and he tended to get clumsy and really stupid when he was horny. He hoped she wouldn't leer while he was carrying one of these trees, he didn't want Ino's mom to get mad at him.

Sakura was restraining herself from the leer she wanted to direct at Naruto, it made him a bumbling idiot, except in bed. In bed it made him even more skillful at his seductive abilities. Later, she'd leer at him later- a lot!

Ino sighed, "I'd never have my team mates doing this, well maybe Chouji, but we'd have to feed him and you know how that is…"

Sakura nodded. Even without Chouji around both girls discussed his bloodline trait's downside delicately.

After Naruto had moved the last of the saplings into the showroom Ino's mother nodded at Naruto and Sakura, "I know you two want to be alone at your place." She handed both money from the register and said, "Pick any plant you want"

Sakura picked up the plant she wanted, and looked surprised at Naruto's choice of one of the miniature trees. It was a tree that would flower.

"Miniature cherry, Sakura chan. Tiny and beautiful, just like you."

Sakura blushed as both Ino and her mom "Awwed" at the sentiment.

"Lucky you, Sakura, he's such a romantic." Ino sighed.

Naruto grinned at the compliment, and couldn't resist a flourishing bow.

All three women giggled, unable to resist the goofy charm of the overblown gesture, especially with addition of him holding a small tree in a large pot in his other arm.

As the door closed behind Naruto and Sakura, Ino's mother sighed and smiled nostalgically. "He'll be a good and handsome Hokage, just like the Fourth."

Ino had shared with her mother that Lady Tsunade had picked Naruto as her successor, but she had kept the secret that Sakura had shared with her that Naruto was Minato Namikaze's son. It was hard keeping any secrets from her mom, but Sakura had made her promise not to tell anyone with that deadly serious look that Ino knew must be obeyed.

Ino wondered if her mom had guessed it though. She had talked about the Fourth for years in such a way that she knew her mom had crushed on him like she had crushed on Sasuke Uchiha. Surely her mom would see the obvious resemblance between the Fourth and Naruto. She probably had known Naruto's mom too.

Sakura hadn't told Ino much about Naruto's mom, just Naruto got his family name from her for his own safety as an infant, she had come from another country as a child, and died the night Naruto was born. Ino didn't know the woman's first name or anything else. The relationship must have been kept completely secret. Ino guessed Naruto's mom must have had to live separate from the Fourth and he could only visit her in absolute secrecy. What a tragic romance.

She was glad for Naruto and Sakura's sake that they weren't living in a world like that. Still, even in the world they lived in a father to be, still on active duty, died. Losing Asuma sensei was hard for her, how devastating it must be for Kurenai sensei. Ino knew Shikamaru had become very serious in making sure Kurenai sensei was safe and well. She should visit Kurenai sensei and the baby tomorrow.

It would be soothing to see that adorable little girl, she was so cute, and Kurenai would probably appreciate feminine company, even if she was a lot younger than her sensei's widow. The only women she knew that visited Kurenai regularly were Tsunade, Anko and surprisingly, Sakura.

Hmm, maybe it wasn't that surprising, Sakura always was a deeply compassionate person, and she liked being around babies and little kids. Sakura's going to be a great mom. She was the favorite medic nin of all the little ones that came through the hospital, she gave off this soothing maternal vibe that instantly put them at ease. Ino envied her that.

Kids liked Ino too, but it was the school aged ones and the young Genin, especially the girls. The young Genin boys liked her too but in the adolescent fantasy sense. Hmm, maybe she should tone down the sexiness a bit around the boys just hitting puberty. Sakura had suggested that when Ino had rolled her eyes about the nurses complaining to her about the messes they had to clean up from said boys wet dreams. Ino shrugged- it gave the boys something to distract them from the pain and boredom of recovering in the hospital.

Genin boys were usually some of the most difficult patients to deal with, but they behaved themselves around her, so a few messy bed sheets were probably a small price to pay. It amused her that boys that would be obnoxious to almost everyone else, would be trying to act their best around her.

The Hokage scared most those boys into silent obedience, but they'd test even Sakura, who they knew had a higher tolerance for bad behavior than the Hokage. Having a boyfriend that had been one of those type adolescent boys, that she had fallen in love with, probably explains that tolerance that the Hokage lacked. Although, from the tales she'd heard from her parents, Lady Tsunade's temper had been hotter in her younger days than it was since she became Hokage. Naruto apparently had something to do with that too.

Naruto and Sakura set down their plants, and immediately began to undress each other, the evening meal forgotten in their desire to be together in the most intimate sense. They kissed their way to the bed and fell onto it, getting into a playful tickling match in the midst of their passion. Finally breathless from both laughter and passion they slowly made love.

After cuddling for a while in silence, Sakura quietly said, "Do you think Ino will be okay?"

"Yeah it's not like we'll ever forget what we had to do on our S ranked mission, but it becomes less constant a nightmare after a while. But still, I want to create a world where S ranked missions never have to happen."

"I believe in you Naruto. I know you will."

"With you by my side, believe it, Sakura chan." He chuckled at using his childhood tagline, and hugged her warmly. He did believe it, that with Sakura beside him, anything was possible.