Now she had a lot of information and was somewhat preoccupied with just figuring out how to file it. Much less put it together in some rational manner. Sakura decided to sleep on it first, THEN make some sense of it.
Instead she was going over her own performance in the attempt to rescue/retrieve Sasuke.
Her evaluation: pitiful.
She had lagged behind. She had been way below Sasuke's level. Judging from the damage done to the Valley Of The End, she had been way below Naruto's level as well. Okay, maybe that part hadn't been her fault.
She had frozen on seeing Sasuke. Hadn't raised a hand or voice. Had watched as Naruto lay on the ground, had watched Sasuke stagger to his feet, put a Chidori into Naruto's chest, and then stagger away.
It was entirely possible that Sasuke had been spent enough at that point that she could have stopped him IF she had been able to get her legs moving.
When she DID get moving, she was watching Naruto bleeding out. Dying. And she'd been so busy crying and upset that she couldn't do anything. It had been the arrival of Jiraiya that had saved Naruto's life at that point. Jiraiya who had apparently watched Tsunade and enough med-nin over the years that he'd been able to stabilize Naruto enough for him to get a giant toad and transport Naruto to the hospital.
Three weeks of Naruto in the hospital. Even Choji had gotten out before Naruto had even woken up.
She'd been on light duty for awhile afterwards. When she'd gotten back, she'd been somewhat fragile emotionally.
No more. Sakura clenched her fist as she went over her recent decisions and feelings. She was a med-nin and a proud ninja of Konohagakure and DAMNED if she was going to sit back and let any of her poor performances continue.
"You look thoughtful," said Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage having nearly walked into her a few minutes previously.
"Lot to think about," admitted Sakura.
"Good," said Tsunade.
"What about this 'engagement' thing?" asked Sakura. "What's your decision on it."
"I just came from a meeting with a Taki representitive," admitted Tsunade. "It all looks valid so I'm allowing it."
"You're allowing Naruto to be engaged to a foreign-nin?" asked Sakura, frowning.
"It's an engagement. Period. No reason to disallow it," responded Tsunade. "The only problem is that when we found our copy of it - we found three other documents very similar to that."
Sakura came to a dead stop. "Naruto's engaged to four women?"
Tsunade shrugged. "Nobody else has come forward, just this 'Fuu' from Takigakure. So far. Besides - it's not as if they even know or like each other. I don't really expect anyone to go through with a marriage based on an old piece of paper. I'm betting that it all blows over and nothing comes of it."
"True," said Sakura.
Fuu was happy. In her own village she was looked down on. Here she got funny looks because she was a foreign-nin.
"So, friends?" asked Fuu.
"Sure!" chirped Naruto, holding out a hand.
Yes, decided Fuu, today was going down as the STRANGEST but also one of the best days in her life. She took the hand offered and shook it. Now if he found out she was a jinchuriki and still accepted her, things would be even better.
"Well, you're always welcome here," said the waitress. "The bill."
"I got it," said Naruto.
Fuu began to blush thought it was mainly concealed by her skin tone. Lunch + guy paying for it + accepting friendship = date. She, who had rarely gotten to talk to a boy her age that didn't involve a mission, had DATED a boy. Who maybe kinda liked her!
Best day ever!
Okay, he looked kinda dorky and didn't seem all that smart. Still - wow.
Naruto didn't notice the look. Ayane DID notice the look. She decided rather than ruin this moment with Naruto automatically denying everything - she'd just let it be.
"Okay, where else to show you," mused Naruto out loud. He brightened. "I know!"
Tsunade face-palmed. "Do you mean my elite ANBU have lost track of a foreign nin wandering around lost in their own village?"
"She was seen running around the Merchant District with a piece of toast in her mouth earlier," stated Boar.
"You're kidding me," said Sakura. "Why would she have toast in her mouth? It's past noon."
"Banteki probably," said Tsunade. "The jonin sent to keep an eye on her. Man is beyond awkward in social situations. Literally has no idea how to deal with life outside mortal combat conditions."
"Oh." Sakura wasn't entirely sure how to take that.
"So a girl is running around town, toast in her mouth, and my elite ANBU lost track of her," said Tsunade.
"We found the toast," offered Boar, sounding nervous.
"You found the toast, well, that makes everything better," said Tsunade cheerfully.
"We are continuing to search for the foreign-nin," said Boar.
"First thing you've said that doesn't make me want to assign extra-heavy training," said Tsunade. "Find her. Bring her and Naruto Uzumaki to my office. I'm heading back there."
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(Posted Tue, 07 Apr 2015 16:43)
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