Chapter Thirty Six

After two weeks Tsunade allowed the returned shinobi who were freed by Sakura from the deadly Reapers control to be discharged from the leaf village hospital. Naruto was standing beside a blushing Hinata who was staring at her feet, Naruto flashed another grin when the two noticed Hinata's mother and father had entered the hospital's lobby to collect their daughter.

It pained Carver and Raiden to see Kakashi, Hinata, and TenTen not remember who the knew leaf shinobi were. It saddened Naruto to stand back watch this and it hurt him even more as Hinata woke up not knowing she was in a loving relationship. Naruto lived a year without Hinata in his life, he refused to go another moment longer and even though Hinata couldn't remember Naruto and their relationship, Hinata had loved him since they were kids...Naruto had a date with her tomorrow. Naruto was blessed with this ease while Sakura was not.

Kakashi had no memory of being with Sakura and was shocked to say the least when shown evidence of being with his student who he believed to be dead. Kakashi had three years missing from his memory, he accepted the fact Sakura Haruno was alive and well and he even accepted what people told him about their relationship. Naruto and Raiden were excited for a moment, they believed things could return to normal until Carver questioned Kakashi who held a stern face who then went on to explain that Kakashi did not believe a sensei being with a student was appropriate.

Naruto let out a light sigh as he turned away from his thoughts. Sakura left the leaf village with her two commanders without so much as a word to anyone, not even to Carver or Raiden. If Hinata woke up, couldn't remember being in love with Naruto and refused to be with him afterwards he didn't think he could remain around her, on some level Naruto understood Sakura leaving the way she did. It must have hurt deeply seeing Kakashi return but at the same time it wasn't the man she loved that came back with him.

Naruto hugged Hinata before she walked out of the hospital with her parents. Speaking of parents, Naruto's were going to be staying with him until they were on their feet. He had dashed home and cleaned up, he smiled seeing his mother and father were thanking Dr. Yu for taking such good care of them.

"Are you ready!?" Naruto grinned.

"Of course!" Kushina smiled back at her son as she took his out reached hand. Minato laughed as he followed his wife and son out of the lobby into the streets of the leaf village.

"Crazy." Kakashi laughed to himself, it was so strange to see his sensei alive and moving through the streets once more.

"You can say that again." Tsunade agreed with a nod, "Are you..."

"I am alright." Kakashi waved.

"Let's go!" Raiden said wanting to get out of this place. Since Kakashi's apartment was now Ino's apartment and Kakashi had no belongings, he had no place to go. Raiden and Carver were going to take him in until he figured out what to do. "Oh, I know you should cook tonight!" Raiden spun around laughing.

"Huh?"

"You used to cook a lot for us!" Raiden said walking beside Kakashi with Carver as they entered the apartment building.

"Really?"

"Yes." Raiden grinned. "You said cooking was a hobby, and since we can't cook to save our lives you should!"

"Alright." Kakashi smiled with a closed eye, in the past two weeks he had grown fond of these two. "Just let me know what you would like."

"Yes!" Raiden cheered as Carver laughed along with Kakashi.

"I wondered where all your things went." Carver thought out of the blue.

"Hm?" Kakashi turned his head.

"Yeah..." Raiden agreed,

"You said Ino was the one who took my apartment?" Kakashi questioned,

"Yes." Raiden glared ahead causing Kakashi to chuckle,

"Oh hey guys!" Naruto waved holding a trash bag. "What are you guys up too?"

"Just wondering around the village." Carver informed, "Kakashi is getting his land legs back, we are wondering what happened to his things and he agreed to cook for us tonight."

"Oh really!?" Naruto lit up, "If I buy the stuff can my parents and I join too!?"

"Really?" Carver asked, "You don't want to be alone with them?"

"I don't really know how to be alone with them yet...and Kakashi sensei was my dads student, I bet I could hear a lot of funny stories!" Naruto laughed.

"Yes." Kakashi agreed. "I think it would be nice."

"Awesome! I will grab my keys and join you! You know, Granny Tsunade might know who cleared out all your stuff." Naruto thought as he walked into his apartment to inform his parents of what was going on.

"He is right." Carver agreed, "Tsunade may know."

"Couldn't hurt to swing by before going to the store." Kakashi smiled with his eyes, Raiden grinned, granted he didn't remember meeting them or getting close...Kakashi was still his kind self...where was Sakura, why wasn't she here with everyone?

"Really?" Naruto asked coming into view. Raiden looked up shaking away his thought of his missing friend and smiled.

"Yeah let's go! I am starving!" Raiden cheered.

"Hey granny!" Naruto waved as he walked into her office, she looked up visibly annoyed from her hand-held mirror as she was applying red lipstick. "Going somewhere?" Naruto asked seeing Tsunade was dressed up with makeup on, Naruto tried to recall the last time he seen her in makeup but was coming up short. Tsunade cleared her throat, she had a date with Dan.

"What do you need Naruto?"

"Oh!" Naruto laughed shaking his head clear of his thoughts. "Do you happen to know who cleared out Kakashi's apartment?"

"Huh?" Tsunade blinked.

"My apartment-" Kakashi stepped up but Tsunade held her hand up.

"I know what you said Kakashi I just...well..." Tsunade sighed, "Sakura was the one placed in charge of it."

"Sakura?" Naruto's heart skipped as her cold-blooded eyes flashed through his mind as her voice echoed in his head: "You can't fix something that isn't broken Naruto, I like what I am."

"Why?" Raiden asked.

"Well..." Tsunade leaned back in her chair, "At the time, Sakura was Kakashi's fiancé and she was his closest next of kin. She was placed in charge all his affairs..."

"Why didn't we know this?" Carver asked crossing his arms over his chest.

"It was..." Tsunade breathed, "...a hard time for her, I don't think she knew how to deal with it and having you all looking at her like she was broken was something she didn't want to deal with on top of mourning..."

"But how did she-"

"I helped her pack up the apartment." Tsunade said honestly.

"What!?" Naruto jumped.

"I'm sorry Kakashi, but you were-"

"I understand." Kakashi said with a nod.

"I don't know what she did with your belongings that, you will need to contact her for." Tsunade finished as she rose to her feet,

"Where are you going?" Naruto whined,

"I have a date." Tsunade smiled.

"Eh!?" Naruto and Raiden cringed.

"I am in the prime of my life!" Tsunade snapped.

"But aren't you going to call Sakura?" Naruto asked,

"No?" Tsunade said, "Why can't you?"

"Uh..." Naruto looked to his feet; his face flinched at the sound of her name let alone seeing her again.

"You do know-" Tsunade sighed, "-when you saw her inside her village, whatever happened she wasn't completely herself."

"Yeah..." Naruto looked away; she was though...that is what scared Naruto...

Raiden and Carver had been the ones to message and call her, to Naruto's delight she didn't respond giving him the courage to text and send a quick call her way as well showing his effort.

"She will get back to us." Carver said to Kakashi as they left the store. "Sakura is a pretty busy person."

"You said she was a Commander?" Kakashi questioned.

"Yeah." Raiden nodded, "Of the Waterfall Village."

"And you two use to work for her?"

"Yeah." Carver said lightly punching Kakashi's shoulder, "Look at you catching on quickly!"

"I cannot wait for dinner!" Raiden beamed holding three plastic bags full raw stakes. "It has been forever since we have had Kakashi's home cooked food!"

----

Sakura looked up hearing someone walk into her office, his silver hair caught her eye first. Sakura looked up from leaning on her desk as she watched him move into the room, confusion leaked all over her face.

"Kakashi?" She questioned his presence. "What are-" Her voice got stuck in her throat as he closed the space between them, he gripped both the arm rests of her chair leaning close to her.

"Nothing-" Kakashi's hot breath fanned her face, "-will keep me away from you." Sakura's heart almost melted in her chest until...

Biss...Biss...

Sakura opened her eyes, scanning around her empty office and let out a deep sighed seeing she was alone she leaned back in her chair. Sakura looked at her phone, the screen was bright seeing another missed call from Carver. It had been four days of them blowing up her phone, she read their messages she knew what they wanted but she wasn't ready to see him...she knew it wasn't right though, she had all his belongings. They weren't hers to keep to herself no matter how badly she wanted too.

Sakura sighed slowly standing from her chair feeling sore from her recent workout with her soldiers, she picked up her phone texting Carver back quickly, so she didn't have the time to second guess herself. Sakura walked into the spare room where she kept Kakashi's things and spent most of her time when home. She made his bed, so it didn't appear that this was where she slept when home.

She glanced in a nearby mirror on the wall, she wore her normal workout attire consisting of knee length leggings, a sports bra as well as an unzipped hoodie feeling annoyed as she looked away. Kakashi wasn't interested in her as a woman anymore, it didn't matter how she appeared, he viewed her as his student even though he had zero right too.

Sakura pulled her seal up on Carver; she opened a seal in front of him where she knew team seven was standing by to come help gather all these boxes that taunted her for months. Sakura blinked after a moment; all the morons needed to do was to step inside a circle...Sakura pulled her lips together placing her hands in her hoodies pockets as she looked around her house waiting.

"It says get in." Raiden says studying Carver's phone, Raiden tilted his head and scratched his chin. "What the fuck kind of kinky shit is she getting into-?!"

"Are you-" Carver sighed rubbing his face as Sakura's white circle glowed in front of him clear as day. "-how many times have you been hit on the head? Do I need to get you tested?"

"What?" Raiden asked looking from the phone, "Oh." He laughed seeing the floor of their apartment. Raiden carelessly tossed the phone in the air.

"Hey!" Carver said catching the phone, as Raiden hopped inside the circle.

"Let's go!" Raiden yelled at everyone. Naruto stared at the four men moving into it.

"Uh..." Maybe he could just hang here and go back to Kakashi's apartment and clean it up a little better, it was smelling like a french whore house in there. As great as it was that Ino was giving up Kakashi's apartment and he was able to take over the lease, she was not leaving it the cleanest...

"Come on!" Raiden waved to Naruto, "We need all the manpower we can get, Kakashi had a lot of shit!"

"I did not." Kakashi muttered turning to Raiden.

"I say that with love of course." Raiden grinned. Carver frowned seeing Naruto's hard face and tight fists as he moved beside him. Naruto opened his eyes once the strong force of wind broke around him, his heart instantly picking up seeing her bored face.

"Sakura!" Raiden smiled seeing her looking at them. "Took you long enough to text back!" He whined.

"I am busy." Sakura stated,

"Doing?"

"My job." Sakura replied as she turned to lead them to Kakashi's belongings, but Raiden detoured towards the kitchen causing Sakura to sigh.

"Can I bum some food!?" Raiden called already going through her cabinets.

"You just ate." Carver said leaning against the wall.

"So?" Raiden said.

"How are you still hungry?"

"Um...because my stomach wants more food?"

"I swear you're a bottomless pit." Carver shook his head turning to see Sakura watching them, "What have you been up too?" He wondered causing her to shrug.

"I don't have a lot of time." Sakura said, "Let's go." She turned walking towards the bedroom. Kakashi watched her from the back, she opened the door and watched the men look around the room.

"Eh...not as bad as I thought." Raiden laughed, Sakura turned and left the room to return to her office. Sasuke, Carver and Raiden were looking around wondering how they were going to do this in one trip. Kakashi watched Sakura leave the room and Naruto follow her.

"Sa-Sakura-" Naruto's heart was pounding, Sakura glanced over her shoulder at the blond.

"Yes?" She asked.

"You--Do you remember everything that happened when we were last here?"

"Are you talking about when you thought you could come into my village, threaten my village leader and so on so forth?" Sakura muttered going through the papers on her desk, searching for an envelope.

"You-You beat us half to death!" Naruto half yelled.

"Mhm." Sakura hummed; she could have sworn she put that damn envelope here...

"Sakura!" Naruto snapped, Sakura looked over seeing he was huffing and looked flushed.

"What?"

"What do you mean what?"

"Are you expecting an apology?" Sakura wondered, leaning against her desk.

"Um...that-that would be nice!"

"Why?"

"Wh-What do you mean why?"

"I warned you to leave."

"You warned me?" Naruto laughed shaking his head, "You-"

"Do you think I am a joke?"

"What? No!"

"Do you think the stories Carver and Raiden told you about me where just fabricated for your amusement?" Sakura asked shrugging her shoulders,

"No..."

"Then when you saw it standing in front of you-" Sakura said in a hard tone, "-when you saw the monster that Carver and Raiden are afraid of and when I warned you to leave not once, not twice but three times and when you chose to stay anyway...your welcome for not killing you."

"Sakura that wasn't-"

"That was as real as I can ever be Naruto." Sakura slightly laughed standing as she ran her hand through her hair. "It's not my fault you can't handle it and the fact you expect me to apologize well...I wouldn't hold my breath if I was you."

Naruto saw the bandage on her side from her fight against Malachite, the leader of the reapers. Naruto pulled his lips together as he looked back to her face, she was searching her desk for something.

"Hey-" Carver said walking in, Kakashi behind him. "-what are you doing?"

"Nothing..." Naruto muttered, turning around to face the wall from Carver investing gaze. Naruto never really got a chance to look around Sakura's house the last time he was here, and he never saw her office. Naruto gazed around the wall he faced ignoring the conversation as he looked at all the pictures. Naruto spotted a tray of cream-colored letters all neatly lined up. Each letter had a name written on the front, he read Dawn, Diem, Carver and Raiden. Naruto's fingers stopped seeing team seven written on one. He picked it up with a hundred questioned floating into his head.

Sakura smiled to herself finally finding the slippery bastard, she hadn't touched this thing in almost a year. Sakura turned her head, her smile dropping seeing Naruto. She moved swiftly, snatching the letter from his fingers.

"Stop touching stuff."

"What are these?" Naruto asked as Sakura pushed him out of the room.

"Not yours."

"But it had-"

"Letters." Sakura sighed.

"Can we have ours now?!" Naruto rebounded quickly from his founded fear of Sakura.

"No." Sakura answered.

"But why not!?"

"Because."

"Because why?" Naruto whined.

"Because those only get sent out if I die!" Sakura snapped; Naruto's voice was so annoying!

"O-Oh..." Naruto breathed as he was pushed out of the office into the living room. Sakura moved to Kakashi, her heart pounding so fast inside her chest as she handed him the envelope. Kakashi looked at it.

"What's that!?" Raiden called as Kakashi opened it.

"You never cashed it?" Kakashi questioned, seeing it was all the money he had in his bank account at the time of his death. The envelope held the check Sakura was cut by that annoying man in the monkey suit.

"I didn't need it." Sakura muttered, annoyed that she could feel everyone's eyes digging holes into her face! Sakura turned to look at them, Naruto and the others quickly looked away, acting as if they weren't watching their own personal live soap opera. Kakashi smiled taking this moment to take in Sakura's appearance. His exposed eye trailed along Sakura's long legs and the curves of her body, she looked nothing like he remembered her to be.

Kakashi has been told by everyone inside his village that he loved this woman before him. He was told countless stories, shown hundreds of pictures, even shown proof he proposed to her before he died but looking at her now...he felt...nothing. Kakashi had eyes, he could see Sakura was a beautiful woman but she as once his student. Even if everyone disagreed with this statement due to her rising to power from another person's training he didn't disagree like they did, Kakashi viewed this woman as his distant student and he could never date her, no matter how nice of a body she had...Carver cleared his throat, pulling Kakashi's eye off Sakura's large bust.

"Hm?" Kakashi smiled,

"I asked if you were ready?" Carver grinned.

"Of course." Kakashi agreed, having no idea what he was agreeing to. Kakashi watched from the corner of his eyes in amazement as Sakura's eyes shifted, wind collected around everyone standing in the room holding Kakashi's belongings.

"Huh?" Carver looked around seeing he was standing inside Kakashi's bedroom. Raiden spun around with his mouth open, his bed was placed where Sakura remembered it to go, as well as the other pieces of furniture. Team seven would have to manually unpack all the boxes, there was only so much Sakura could do.

"Awesome!" Raiden laughed following Sasuke and Naruto into the living room with Carver behind him. "This is so much less work-" Sakura smiled feeling a little amused by them as she mindlessly played with the bracelet on her wrist.

Sakura took a step to follow them into the living room, Kakashi's hand lightly caught her wrist. Her emerald eyes widened as her head whipped around, Kakashi looked at the bracelet on her wrist, the charm resting between his fingers.

"This is-" Kakashi muttered looking at his clans' symbol, Sakura pulled her lips together feeling her heart tighten watching disbelief fill his exposed eye. It was like this moment was making this all real for him, he was finally believing that he actually dated Sakura. She didn't need to see his face to know what he was feeling, it was written all inside his dark orb. Sakura's heart felt like it was being filled with wet cement as she reached her free hand over and unclipped the bracelet. Kakashi's exposed eye turned to gaze at her pretty face, "-are you..."

"Mhm." Sakura hummed with a nod, she spun on her heel as she moved out of his bedroom. As she walked out of the room she glazed around as a faded Kakashi playfully chasing her around his couched as she held his beloved red book hostage replayed in her head. Sakura swallowed the lump in her throat as she pulled wind around her, she didn't want to be here. This place didn't feel like home to her anymore.

Carver turned his head, he was about to ask Sakura a question as he felt her chakra. Carver frowned seeing her hurt expression as she held her naked wrist before vanishing from the apartment. He was confused until he Kakashi walking out of his bedroom holding her bracelet. Carver sighed shaking his head, Kakashi had no idea what he had just done.