Runnin Down A Dream
Sakura holds her breath as Naruto puts his hand to her cheek. She lets go as he leans in taking a quick breath in as their lips collide. They both suck and pull desperately as they start taking off their clothes. The only sound heard is the waterfall before them. They had stopped at the water hole to wash off the grim from their mission. Blood and mud covered clothes are tossed aside. She helps Naruto take off his pants as she drops to her knees.
“Sakura,” His soft gravely voice hardly heard with consistent crash of the falls.
She looks up at him as his fingers caresses the top of her head. Sakura smirks and tugs his boxer briefs, they slide down to his ankles and she leans forward.
“Don’t scare me like that again, Naruto.” She says still keeping eye contact.
“Sakura,” His breath hitches. “I promise”
A loud scream echoes around them, it’s filled with pain and gets even louder than the waterfall. It breaks the memory Sakura has found herself in. She watches as Naruto’s form slowly disappears, his flushed smiling face looking sad as it fades. The memory fades and she’s back in her war torn clothes. The white void is back, and she is left with nothing again.
The sound of Real Sakura still screaming out, undoubtedly from the torture she is going through. She feels it necessary to stop considering her other self as that, Other.... she wasn't other... she was real. And she's being a real pain in the ass right now. Frustration has her stomping forward with no place to go but for the sake of feeling like she’s going somewhere.
She stops and puts her hand to her forehead, her jewel warm under her palm. Without thinking she takes all her mental strength and with all her focus of the Real Sakura she pulls, and pulls, but nothing happens.
Her breathing becomes gasps and she yells out in fury, “Yahhh!!!”
Real Sakura tumbles into existence and to the ground. She’s soaked from her head to her waist, water dripping all over and tears and snots running down her face.
“Waterboarding?” She asks.
Real Sakura continues to pants and sob trying to regain herself and doesn’t bother to respond, too tired to care.
Sakura closes her eyes, she will have to do what her Inner did for her, there was no other way if this Sakura is to survive. And to be honest she really wants this Sakura to not only survive but to be able to protect herself.
Watching the girl in her misery tugs on her heart. She might try not to remember, but she does remember.
The time she was weak. Couldn’t help Sasuke. Couldn’t help Naruto. Couldn’t help Hinato or Ino or Shikamaru. She’s going to help herself. Kami, she knows that is dorky and she is almost happy Naruto and Sasuke.. OR KAKASHI isn't here to see her now.
“Okay, come on, get up.” Sakura pulls Real Sakura to her feet. She takes a small rag from her inner pocket and wipes her face with it. “You’ll be fine… I am going to help you, okay? No more loser talk. We are in this together. Right…” She looks at Real Sakura who is still shuddering and holding back sobs.
After ten minutes Real Sakura is finally calm, “Thanks for pulling me in here… I tried to get back but I wasn’t able to, and they kept submerging me and I couldn’t- I couldn’t breathe…”
Sakura gives her another couple of minutes, the waterboarding here is just as harsh as theirs by the sound of it. She didn’t catch any glimpses of it, probably because she has been able to pull up her memories in this void and she’s been getting lost in them not really paying attention to the torture Real has been going through. Sorry, but she’d rather get lost in her intimate times with Naruto.
“The key to surviving torture is actually simple. You must have faith, a purpose, and the physical endurance to withstand it, and that’s it.”
Real Sakura gives her a look and she shakes her head.
“When you know your beliefs, and what you are fighting for, you think of that when they are torturing you. Don’t give them anything. They will promise you a medic, but don’t fall for it. They will tell you it’s for the best for your village, it’s not. What T&I is doing to you right now is a test and you gotta pass it, or else they will dump you so fast you can kiss your shinobi career goodbye. If you think that’s bad, even being a nurse in the hospital you’ll be frowned upon.”
Real Sakura winces and rubs her face.
“Because no one likes a traitor, Sakura.” She says to Real. Sasuke has to be laughing real good somewhere.
“You must know your beliefs. I want you to name them.”
Real looks bewildered, “What, now?”
Sakura nods and waits.
“Well, I believe in teamwork, and in Konoha and helping people.” She shrugs and shifts in her uncomfortable wet clothes that’s still dripping on the ground.
“Specifics, who are you fighting for?”
“Naruto-kun, his family, and Sasuke-kun and his family…Tenzo-sensei and Sai-san, even though Sai can be.... and Kakashi-sensei… and Rin-chan and Obito-kun. Ino and Hinata-chan…their families. Everyone in the village.”
Obito?! Sakura bites her lip. That’s right, things are different, Obito is here and still alive, remember. He’s not Tobi, not a maniac, a freaking psycho, he’s not that here, nope. Cool, cool. Kakashi is fine. She takes a deep breath.
“That’s a start, now I want you to remember these people with every break of your bones. When Ibiki is smashing that hammer down you think of Naruto. You think of what consequences will be to your people if you utter a word.” Sakura says firmly and narrows her eyes. “Why do you protect Konoha?”
“Because it’s my home.”
“That’s not good enough, what makes it home? What makes you want to protect it with your life?”
“I… I don’t know…”
Sakura nods and turns from Real Sakura, “That’s okay, there was a time I didn’t know either. It wasn’t until I lost it that I knew.” She sighs and swallows trying to keep her composure. “My Konoha would have celebrations every new year where friends and families would get together, eat sweets and laugh and have fun, without worry. That’s what you fight for, those moments where the children of this village can experience peace.”
“The pains too much, when they hurt me I can’t think of these things! I just want it to stop, you don’t understand I’m not strong like you! You’ve been through more than me!” Real Sakura puts her arms around herself and shakes her head, “It’s too much, I can’t!”
“Stop.” Sakura turns back to Real, “Remember what I said about belief? Well that only works if you believe in yourself first. You know who taught me that?”
Real Sakura shrugs, “Naruto?"
“Naruto.” Sakura confirms. “I wasn’t always a hard ass. I went through hell. But Naruto will believe in you, as he always does, as he believes in everyone. It’s his power. If you can’t believe in yourself just know Naruto believes in you. I’ve seen how he is here and yeah they definitely have their differences but at their core he’s the same genuine kind hearted person you can rely on.”
With reluctance she says, “If you want, I can switch with you so you can get a break.”
Real Sakura shakes her head, “No, you’re right. This is my fight and I need to prove myself to Konoha and to my team.”
Sakura grins and puts her hand on her hip. “Remember what I said. For every inch you don’t give it’s giving them all the more reason to trust you, perhaps even to send you out on more classified missions. These guys aren’t really your enemy, in fact you’re the enemy here. Let me rephrase that, I’m the enemy here. They’re just doing what they need to, but you’re to give nothing.”
“How do I go back?” Real Sakura asks after a moment.
“Will yourself. Close your eyes and will yourself back with everything you have.”
And so Real Sakura does, she closes her eyes and after a few minutes her body fades away.
………….
Tsunade storms down the hospital stairs going down multiple flights with Shizune hot on her heels. Once through the basement entrance to the labs they make haste through the cold fluorescent lit halls passing through multiple locked doors that Tsunade has to swipe her badge to gain entry.
“Tsunade-sama, are you sure he’s going to be here?”
“Of course he is! His unit isn’t participating in the evacuation!”
A moment.
“I know that, Tsunade-sama, I only meant that because it’s lunch time…”
Tsunade turns to Shizune, “Well if he’s on lunch we’ll just snoop around until he gets back.”
“That’s highly unnecessary” Orochimaru opens the lab door before Tsunade has a chance to swipe her card to the lock box, “What do you want Tsunade?”
“Listening in on our conversation, eh? You can be such creep.” Tsunade doesn’t wait for an invitation and walks in past Orochimaru into the lab.
Orochimaru sighs and follows her in. Shizune walks behind him then stays nearby the door in case she needs to hurry out. Sometimes their fights get lethal and Tsunade's in a mood today.
“Once again, what do you want?” He asks again as Tsunade lets her eyes roam the lab taking in all of the test tubes and bubbly concoctions in large glass vases with tubes running all over into different machines making hissing and beeping noises. She wonders if there’s anything he’s hiding in the back because he never keeps his interesting works in the main lab.
“Where are your assistants?” She asks noticing no one else is around. Usually Kabuto is lingering about but right now there is no one to be seen, and neither is the other one that usually wears goggles, she forgets her name.
“Like Shizune has already pointed out, it’s lunch time. And quite honestly I’m surprised you’re here seeking me out and not that perverted toad.”
Tsunade laughs, “Jiraiya is off doing Kami knows what right now-“ She cuts off as she notices Orochimaru’s smug face. “No! He’s here?”
“Surprised you didn’t sense him a mile away. He’s masking his chakra but he can’t hide from me.” Orochimaru says smugly and turns to his standing desk to look over some documents.
“Shizune, did you know he was here!?”
“No Tsunade-sama!”
“Did Dan?”
“I don’t believe so…” Shizune chuckles nervously hoping her uncle isn’t that foolish.
Orochimaru glares over at them.
“Well, I just wanted to stop by and make sure everything is running smoothly, that’s all.” She says lightly and trying for nonchalant.
“I give Hokage-sama my reports, now really, what is it? You’re stalling and my patience is thin!” He slaps down the papers in hand and stalks over to her. “Just because you have a slow day today doesn’t mean my research can wait!”
Orochimaru looks like he wants to brag about his ‘research’ but she can see he’s holding back. Good, he would probably incriminate himself if he did. Tsunade sighs and sits down on one of the stools and tells Shizune to wait outside, which she does hurriedly.
“I spoke with Sensei today…”
“Oh Kami, not you too, Tsunade don’t even start!” He turns from her.
“Why? Listen, Sensei and Asuma just want your expertise is all, hardly a challenge for someone of your caliber so why must you be so stubborn. It’s Sensei!”
Orochimaru sighs and starts to look over his documents once more, “Because I am not getting involved in his little scheme he has going on. Does he even know that it’s considered cheating?”
“Give him a break, he just wants to win the competition, it’s against Suna, you always said you hated Suna.”
Orochimaru smiles slightly and shrugs, “I have morals too Tsunade, and making him an elixir for his plants to win some competition isn’t one of them! Besides, I have too much to do.”
“You’re going to break an old mans heart?” Tsunade asks him sincerely but gets a loud scoff in reply. “You know he doesn’t have a green thumb! Half those plants he has Asuma take care of it and he’s tired of it, he’s gotta kid now! He can’t leave sensei high and dry!”
“I’m not and that’s final! If word got out he cheated then all of Konoha would be ridiculed. Maybe he should stop smoking in the same room as all his plants!”
She sighs and crosses her arms leaning on the table staring into the bubbling blue vase, “We know you would make it so that doesn’t happen.” She let’s the subject drop. “Anyway, how’s Tenzo and Sai?”
Tsunade’s real reason for coming.
“Oh no, you aren’t pulling Tenzo into this,” Orochimaru turns to her. “He’s got enou-“
Tsunade interrupts him, “I wasn’t asking for that Kami sake, Orochimaru, can’t I ask about my nephew?”
Although, come to think of it perhaps Tenzo can help Sensei, she ponders as
Orochimaru stares at her hard before his shoulders slightly lose it’s tension, but only a little.
“Sai’s out on a mission, should be back today or tomorrow and Tenzo is doing border patrol for the evacuation. They were both fine last I knew.”
Tenzo was a child in ROOT when Orochimaru came across him half dead and needing immediate medical attention. The boy escaped from Danzo’s initiation that night but the escape was only temporary.
Orochimaru had been researching ‘Experiment H’ for over a year, a study that involved using cells and DNA from Hashirama Senju to help accelerate healing amongst other things. Using it as a last resort, not knowing if it would work, he injected Tenzo with her grandfathers DNA and the boy made a miraculous recovery. An enormous step forward in research, one that Sensei proudly awarded Orochimaru with his own lab for study while he was Hokage. Never the less, ‘Experiment H’ had to be side benched per their sensei who was also Hokage at the time. And every Hokage that came into office after, including her husband. Orochimaru understood, satiated that his experiment worked was good enough not to proceed further. Tenzo being a constant reminder of his success also helped.
Tenzo grew up under the tutelage of Orochimaru but also maintained his status in ROOT to do his own part to take down the faction. Tsunade was against this but the child was a prodigy, and just like all the other prodigies she’s known across her lifetime it’s best to let them do what they feel they need to. And thus the start of a rebellion and plan to take down Danzo had formed… years of planning and getting intel.
Tenzo had rescued Sai from ROOT taking the child under his wing. When Danzo was finally executed they were there as witnesses, along with Orochimaru and others who had a hand in taking him down, watching as the devil himself met his end. She always appreciated Orochimaru being there for those kids, watching out for them and taking care of them. He wasn’t the easiest person to be on a team with but he watched your back.
“Tsunade?” Orochimaru pats her head with a rolled up paper, “If you’re zoning out you should probably call it a day.”
She shakes her head, “No, no, don’t mind me…”
“You shouldn’t keep Shizune waiting any longer.”
She nods knowing she's being kicked out. “Right… You and the boys should come over for dinner. Shizune will be there too, it will be a family night.”
“Leave.” He’s says softly, waving his hand, and going back to looking over his test results.
She walks out, the door closing behind her she lets out a heavy sigh. Shizune goes over to her looking at her in question.
“Poor Sensei.”
“Aw, no…” Shizune says sadly. “Maybe I can find him a book?”
Tsunade shakes her head, “No, we’ve already tried that, remember? Killed his orchid in record time.”
“Hmm…” Shizune ponders as they walk back upstairs to the hospital.
Tsunade suddenly remembers, “Tell the head nurses I’m going to be gone for a few.”
“Eh! But Tsunada-sama, there’s that meeting you set up!”
“Cancel it, I’ve got a pervy toad to hunt down.”
……………..
Tenzo looks through the trees, he touches the branch he’s on and feels for any foreign chakra.
“Boo.” A sultry voice says behind him.
“Quit it.” Tenzo says to Anko, he and the rest of Anbu are watching the border along with the Jonin. He sighs as she pokes her Monkey face mask besides his. “…”
“Oh, touchy.”
Tenzo turns his head away from her and jumps from the branch and falls to another, catching on another sturdy Oak tree and twirling around the limb to get the opposite view he had before still checking for any signs of an enemy.
Monkey flies down and nimbly lands onto the branch directly across from him.
“You’ve been avoiding me.”
It’s true, Anko is not an easy person to fool and since the dimension traveler has been here he’s been keeping his distance. His relationship with her is… he stops there, he can’t think of this right now.
He continues to do his job and scan the forest.
She’s suddenly behind him putting her arm around his chest and leans in, “For that I expect some dango.”
Then she’s gone.
“Fuck.”
……………..
Tsunade makes her way to the public bath house only she doesn’t enter through the front. Oh no, she walks around back to where one would find pervs looking in. Sure enough, there he is.
Her old teammate, with his white hair down his back, perched with his face against the wooden fence.
She grabs his hair tugging him back then smacks his face.
“Wha!” He falls to the ground holding his cheek, “Oh, you found me. Look, there’s not even a single beauty in sight! Probably because of the evacuation.”
“Jiraiya, are you seriously here just to sneak a peak?”
The Sage stands up and brushes himself off, “No, as a matter of fact, I have come for an important business matter, Tsunade.”
“Pah! ‘Important business matters’, who do you think you’re trying to fool? Your business is writing smut novels.”
“It saddens me you’ve never read my books. It would help you and Dan with a lot of your problems.”
Tsuande grabs him by his green kimono and pulls him roughly forward bringing him close to her face. She whispers aggressively, “What problems?”
She lets him go, “We shouldn’t be talking here.” Tsunade makes note of the Uchiha from the Konoha Military Police walking around to monitor the area. That’s the last thing she needs is the pretentious clan hearing about her marriage from Mr. Icha Icha!
Jiraiya follows her back to the Hokage residence and into the large living area decorated with hardly anything. Leaving their guests to behold the one thing that is most important to both Dan and herself front and center. A small shrine for both of their younger siblings, Nawaki and Tadashi, small vases of flowers besides each picture frame, and before them are two candles and a place for incense.
Jiraiya goes over to the shrine and bows giving his blessings before he takes a seat sitting across from Tsunade on the couch.
“Have you spoke to your summons recently?”
Well that’s not what she was expecting, “Not in a while, I haven’t had the need to, why has something happened?”
He nods and takes a deep sigh, “I had to summon Shima and Fukasaku after I caught some trouble on a mission. At first I thought they were there to help but they were more concerned about other things.”
Jiraiya pauses tentatively, “Has Minato spoke with you or Dan about anything?”
Tsunade sighs, “About what? Jiraiya stop being suspenseful and spit it out already!”
“Okay. I was informed by the toads that Kakashi’s student, the girl, is from another dimension.”
Tsunade stares at him then leans back before standing up. “I have a meeting I have to go to.”
Jiraiya quickly gets to his feet. “Summon your slug, they’ll tell you.”
“If this is a sad excuse for a laugh…”
“It’s not!” He sounds sincere but his eyes show it the most. They're dark but she can see right through him when he's jesting.
Tsunade performs the hand signs, “Summoning jutsu!” Then slams her palm down onto her carpet.
Katsuyu appears in the middle of the room, “Tsunade-sama, oh thank goodness you finally summoned me, I have news.”
“So I’ve heard, what’s going on Katsuyu?”
“A cosmic event has shifted the dimensions, so much so that sonic waves were felt in the Shikkotsu Forest. Even the mushrooms felt it.” The slugs says, “A child from another dimension that goes by the name of Sakura Haruno has traveled here. I believe you know of this child?”
Shock hits her, so it's true then, the Sakura using her chakra scalpel technique and her moves must have been the one from another dimension. She had been so worried that someone was impersonating the girl when Dan had told her about it. This isn't good at all.
Tsunade kneels down to her summons. “I do, thank you for informing me. What is to happen now?”
“We do not know, Tsunade-sama, we were only informed so much.” The slug notices Jiraiya, “There was a meeting for all summons on this matter to be forewarned but nothing was discussed regarding preventative measures. I recall the Toads being there as well, hello Jiraiya-sama.”
“Hello Katsuyu.” He cheerily says to the cute slug.
"Even the toads with their wisdom for the future did not have much to say for they had not foreseen it."
Tsunade shares a look with Jiraiya who is looking back with equal gravity.
“That’s not all, Tsunade-sama. Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha are known to be the reincarnations of a Sage’s children. There is not much to be known on that either.”
“What’s the source of your information, who decided amongst the summons to hold this meeting?” She asks the slug.
“I wish I could tell you more.” Is all her summons says.
“Katsuyu, thank you for your time.” Tsunade dips her head and dispels the summons.
The slug is gone with a poof.
Another heavy sigh and Tsunade is making her way to the fridge for her red wine. She pulls out a merlot imported from Kumo and looks over at Jiraiya.
“I’ll take one.” He says.
She puts the bottle down on the counter top, then gets a single wine glass. “I wasn’t asking. Does Minato know?”
“I don’t know,” Jiraiya says pouting then stands and swaggers over to the island in the kitchen. “Come on, it’s not my fault I have to be the messenger! Give me a glass, I traveled miles to get here. Even Sakumo-sama offered me something to drink.”
“He’s got to know. Do you know if Kakashi knows? Did you tell Sakumo, what did he say?” Tsunade’s mind is spinning right now. She twirls the wine in hand trying to air it out. “Why didn’t they say anything?”
“I don’t know what they know, Tsunade. I just got here, and for the record, I haven’t told anyone about this. Just you, m’lady.” Jiraiya has taken out a wine glass from the cabinet and holds it out with his head down like the beggar he is.
“Fine.” She takes the bottle and pours him a glass. “Minato can also summon toads so he has to know, it involves Naruto.” She takes a sip. “And Kakashi had to notice a difference in Sakura.”
Jiraiya shrugs, “You might be giving him too much credit there… I’ve heard from the grape vine he treats her like an early dismissal if you catch my drift.”
“He would still notice, you don’t become Captain of Anbu, and infiltrate ROOT by being a sack of potatoes.”
Kakashi is a menace to society, he can sniff out anything, anyone, anywhere. Tsunade has known the boy since he was a child and his record is immaculate. She would put money on him and HAS put money on him AND won. She put her stakes in the man quite literally.
“Like I said, too much credit. Just look at Orochimaru, he’s smart enough to find a cure for a dying child, but you think he can cook dinner?”
Tsunade bites her lip, that’s a good point. “Dan is not going to be happy. If he finds out his most trustworthy men have been keeping something like THIS from him, it’s not going to be good. Not at all, and I’m trying really hard not to go to Minato right now and pound his head in.”
Jiraiya hums in agreeance and sits down on the stool at the island directly across from her.
“If they did there must have been a good reason. They aren’t the type for treason.”
“Don’t put words in my mouth.” She snaps at him and setting the empty glass down and looking him dead in the eyes. “You tell me right now, who else knows?”
Jiraiya leans back and crosses his arms looking right back at her. “Just you. I don’t know if they know or not, like I said.” He says firmly.
“I don’t like this just as much as you, but I only knew because I had to summon my toads for help. Minato probably hasn’t summoned his toads in ages, and Kakashi probably doesn’t even know Sakura isn’t Sakura. But we will get to the bottom of it sooner than later, I have to go get Naruto once this evacuation is done. I’m going to present to him the Toad Summoning Contract.”
“You think he’s ready for that? He’s only a chuunin.” Tsunade thinks of Naruto and he reminds her a lot of Nawaki, so bright and cheerful.
She’ll never forget the first time she held him in her arms. Kushina and Minato had come over for lunch with their newborn baby. The worry on their faces as she looks down and notices the whiskers, she can tell they only want to protect him. The two of them both being masters in sealing jutsu was able to seal the Fox Demon without any issues, but was unable to do anything for the markings on the babies face.
Then came the day when Naruto was turning seven years old and she brought him a present for his birthday gift. Family and friends gathered around.
Kushina bends down to the boy, “What do you say, Naruto?”
Naruto looks down at the little toy in his hands, smiling brightly before turning to Jiraiya who is right beside him with more presents, shyly he says, “Thank you J'raiya.”
Jiraiya leans in and whispers in Naruto’s ear and after doing so Naruto looks up at her and smiles a great big grin.
“OH THANK YOU BAA-CHAN!”
“Naruto’s ready. It’s only a matter of asking Minato if it’s okay.”
“Don’t forget Kushina, Jiraiya.”
“Yes…. Yes her too.” He pouts and she can tell he’s hoping to nab Minato alone and get a yes from the man and whisk Naruto off before Kushina has an idea on anything. They’re all too ready for an adventure, jumping in gung-ho.
“Ugh, so I’m going to have to break the news to Dan then.” She goes over to the fridge and looks in. “I’m going to need Sake for this. And I am not telling him now, I’ll wait till after this whole evacuation is done.”
“D’you know Sakumo-sama has his own whiskey?”
Tsunade closes the fridge and turns, “Oh really?”