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When Flowers Wilt	By : VantheKeyofLain Category: Naruto > General Views: 1053 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
Disclaimer: I do
not own Naruto, and this is making me no profit.

NOTE: By now, if you�re this far, then you know that this
fic contains:
Sakura drama, Lee
drama, SakuLee Eventuallity, KakaGai, NaruHina, IrukaAyame
Mysterious dreams
and much much more�

When Flowers Wilt

�� Warm and Bloody
bandages feel to the floor with little care as to whether they dirtied it more
or not. Soon, articles of clothing came after that. In their wake, strode the
person who�d shed previous material, and who was now standing in the middle of
her bedroom, unclothed and staring.

�� Sakura was
preparing for another shower, and as she went in, her gaze had drifted upon a
rather large and impressive scroll. It had made her stop for a moment and
reflect upon the past hour or so. She had made it back to the village on time;
slightly earlier than she�d previously said she would. Her thoughts drifted
over the conversation she�d had with Tsunade-sama.

�� I back, Tsunade-Sama. Here is the item.�
Sakura walked up to the woman, carefully intent on not showing any of her
injuries or injured state.

�� As Sakura
shifted the small pouch she wore on her hip, she pulled out an ornate looking
jewelry box. It didn�t look all too fancy, but what it held inside was of top
secret importance. She placed it on the Hokage�s desk, next to a rather large
sized scroll. Nothing thinking too much of the scroll, Sakura pressed forth, a
small voice inside her head nagging lightly. She glanced over at the wall
clock, and gave a smug smile to the woman in front of her.

�� Six twenty.�

�� Five fifty-two.�

�� The younger
woman scoffed angrily.

�� Though if it pleases you, he did seem to
have been walking with a bit of limp.� Tsunade arched one thing eyebrow; as
if waiting to see what kind of response the other woman would give.

�� Sakura only
furrowed hers in return. The look that glazed across her eyes appeared only a
moment before disappearing all together. Whatever she�d been thinking was
something on a deeper level that Tsunade knew enough not to pry any further.
Instead she continued on with more important and hopefully helping matters.
Something, Tsunade wished, would perhaps relive the younger girl of some
stress.

�� Now that you�re through, I have something
for you.�

�� Sakura
snapped back to attention, a look of confusion and slight awe crossed her tired
face.
��
�� You have something for me? What is it?�

�� Tsunade
nodded down at the large scroll on her desk. Sakura, having not paid too much
attention to it previously, now looked at it more carefully. There were a few
outer designs on the scroll, but nothing all too impressive. It did look a
little hassled and old, and even a little dirty.

�� After careful consideration, I have decided
to let you take that, and study its contents. I believe you to be a mature and
responsible enough individual to trust you with this scroll. Don�t prove me
wrong.�

�� Sakura
nodded, and took the scroll in hand. It felt warm, like it had been recently
handled. Carefully examining it, she took note that it was indeed dirty; dirt
and a little mud on the outer surface, but nothing that couldn�t be wiped off. There
was some odd looking marks on it too.

�� What�s in this, to be so special?�

�� Tsunade
smiled lightly.
��
�� It
contains some very lovely medical jutsu technique that may come of some use to
you. However, you must keep it to yourself. A few items in there are, how shall
we say, discreet. Tell no one you have it. That is for you and you alone. When
you are finished with it, bring it back so I may lock it back up.�

�� Lock it back. . .� Sakura looked up to
her former sensei.

�� Why now, and not before? If this scroll is
so important, why is it in such shape?�

�� Things that are stole usually get battered
before they are returned.�

�� Sakura�s
eyes widened lightly as she processed the information; and with the mental
skill she was known for, immediately understood where this came from, and
ultimately answered her own question.

�� Lee retrieved this just tonight.� It
was a statement, rather than a question.

�� Well, that
will be all for now. Go home, rest up, and do what you will with it. Just
remember what I said.�

�� Sakura
palmed the scroll tightly, and stood upright, giving the older woman a quick
nod.

�� Hai, Tsunade-sama.�

�� From there,
Sakura had left the Hokage and headed home swiftly. Her arm was almost numb,
and she had kept herself well maintained during the small conversation with the
woman. Now she gritted her teeth, and swiftly made her way home. Trying to take
her mind off the tingling sensation, Sakura looked back to the scroll in hand,
looking it back over and . . .

�� The
markings from before were smudged. Ink wouldn�t do that � what the hell. . .

�� Taking the
scroll in her other hand, she quickly found her answer; along her palm and two
first fingers.

�� It was
fresh blood.

�� Sakura
stared at her hand for a moment, before clenching it into a fist. She didn�t
think about anything after that and just picked up the pace to get home.

�� Pulling
back from her daze, Sakura started down at her shower, adjusting the heat to
her liking. Tossing the towel on the sink counter, she slipped into the mist
and under the gentle beat of water that seemed to melt all the tension away. They
never failed to calm her; bringing her to her center. Water was a mysterious
element of nature. When cold, it could make you chill; or be just right on a
hot day. When warm, it could melt away pain and tensions, or it could scald you
and burn you, causing you the very same pain.

�� Sakura
leaned against the shower wall, just letting the water cascade upon her.
Lightly, she bought up her hand, once again. This time she watched as the water
mingled with the blood � his blood � and watched it slowly dilute, trickle, and
be washed away down the drain. Even after it had all been watched away, she
could still see it there. Furrowing her brow lightly, she clenched her hand
again, and closed her eyes.

�� I don�t
need to you to protect me anymore. . .�

�� She
remained as such for a bit longer, letting the water�s power take her away from
the world; far away. Eventually, she would finish and find herself crashing
into bed, to sleep away the rest of the night and into the afternoon of the
next day with dreamless sleep.

- - x - -

�� Dawn was
never a fun time of day. It was a time that made you feel groggy and worn, no
matter what state you were in. It was also the perfect time of day in which
your eyes were the most susceptible at playing tricks on you, as there was just
enough light, and just enough lack of it, for shadows and objects to blend with
one another. Then there was the initial chill, and gradual warming that the
slowly rising sun brought. Dawn however also meant that you had made to live
yet another day in the world, and it was now time to wait on the next.

�� Perhaps it
was a little bit of all these combine, along with a bit of sleepless stress
that made for his slight lack of judgment; no matter that it had been effective
none the less. However, he couldn�t help but think, had it not been dawn, and
had it been just a bit later � when his brain would have been processing things
just a bit more faster to his liking, that just maybe he wouldn�t have the
large and rather sore gash in his left hand as he now had. Sure, it was better
than it being implanted in his cellmates head � but not being able to process
the fact that he could have easily deflected the kunai with his own � well�

�� So after
the enemies had fallen and things were quite; a regroup was in order. At this
point, so was repairing his injury. It was still sore, as the kunai�s tip had
in fact pushed out threw his hand. So, yes, a nice sized hole in the hand
didn�t do for happy times. Luckily for him, or perhaps a combination of skill
and dumb luck, for two small factors prevented the kunai from going entirely
through. His skill was in the fact that, even if it had been dawn, he�d been
able to reflect his grasp quick enough to clamp onto the offending weapon.

�� The second
tiny fact had been, awkwardly, a tiny band of metal.

�� Trajectory
is a flawed thing, when any one thing no matter its size or matter can
ultimately destroy it. Such as that the angle of the kunai would have sliced
his hand in two down between his middle and ring finger. Throw in a small band
of gold plated metal for irony and save half a hand.

�� Small
wonders never ceased to amaze Kakashi.

�� Though dwelling
on it could be done later. Right now, they had to finish with the horribly long
mission. The days had seemed to run together; though he was more than sure that
this was only the beginning of day three. Well, perhaps now that the enemies
had been taken care of they would get this over with quickly.

�� Ichi Ichi
Paradise Vol. 58 taunted him.

�� Along with
other enticing thoughts; ones he reigned in quickly. Mission
first; revenge later.

�� Kakashi�thanks
for back there. I don�t know why I just froze up like that.�

�� The voice
of his wing mate pulled Kakashi�s attention towards the younger man.

�� Maa, relax
Iruka. There are times when we all tend to freeze up; and sometimes they could
get us killed; but you�ve got me to watch out for you.� A grin came with this,
but Iruka could only see the crinkling of the other�s visible eye.

�� Still, I
promise I�ll be more on top of things. I want to return that favor.� A smile in
kind.

�� Kakashi
nodded and headed back over to the other groups with the younger man in tow.
After receiving what were most likely the final orders of the mission, the
three wings departed, taking up their parts in the plan of attack. Adrenaline
increasing through him, Kakashi smiled to him self. The game was afoot and soon
to end. After that, it was a straight shot home, and some due punishment was in
order. Kakashi chuckled to himself, jumping thought he trees at a bit of a
faster pace.

Thirty three and he never felt more
alive!

- - x - -

�� Peeking out
from underneath the covers, a lone eye looked tiredly at a cluttered room. Gaze
swept from a tousled shirt to a small pile of used bandages. Pink locks of
smooth hair roused from under the warmth of the large comforter that trapped
the rest of the person within.

�� Sakura
glanced lazily at her wall clock, seeing that it was early, only slightly after
noon. Rousing the rest of herself up, she padded her way towards her kitchen,
intent on making herself a cup of coffee and something to eat. Musing over what
she would do today, she reminded herself that more missions would be brought in
tomorrow. So that left her with little to do.

�� Nibbling at
what little food she�d made for herself, her gaze shifted across her apartment.
It was rather bland, slightly under furnished, and felt unlived. Her features
creased in a frown as she thought to how ironic it was that she of all people
would end up living as her former sensei had once lived. She had remembered a
few times her and her team had gone to see the masked man. His apartment has
been rather uninviting. There were a few trinkets that did brighten her smile,
even if a few of them were very sad.

�� Now she was
slightly jealous. Her former sensei was no longer in a sad apartment, but a
rather nice house. It was a house that looked lived in, that felt inviting, and
was by far warmer than what she felt now.

�� And he�d
gotten married before her. That�s not right. Then again, who was she to argue?
Sakura frowned and felt her eyes slightly mist over.

�� She could
have been first; she could be much happier right now, and she knew it.

�� And that
killed her.

�� She didn�t
deserve that kind of life after what she had done; how she�d � no, she wasn�t
going to think about it. She didn�t need to wallow in any more self pity for
today.

�� Putting her
dish away into the sink, Sakura walked back towards her room. She was insistent
to find something to do so she wouldn�t have to think about things she wished
not to dwell on. Her eyes then met the scroll Tsunade had given her.

�� Well, that could work.�

�� Taking the
scroll in had, making sure not to dirty her hands again; she carefully undid
the seal and unfurled it. What met her eyes was amazing. There were many
medical techniques that Sakura had only thought about in passing, or in theory.
Some of the jutsus were some she�d actually known should exist, but never saw.
Oh this was defiantly going to keep her busy.

�� Something very interesting caught her eye.
There were some medical jutsus used for attacks. Reading along, she could see
there were some that were very detailed, and some very simple. Sakura took out
a blank parchment from the table�s drawer, and began jotting some quick notes
on a few of these various techniques. She knew she could do the majority of
these in her sleep; however these trickery ones would require time. The really
involved ones would require help.

�� And help
she would seek once again from him. Finalizing her notes, and writing in a few
of her own, Sakura went about getting dressed in something loose and breathable.
If she was going to be physically training for this, she�d need to be able to
easily move. After her quick dress up, Sakura went back to her notes.
��
�� Counter-point, Crane-style�If I adjusted
the Burning Spirit combo� that might work.�

�� Satisfied
with her new ideas, and going over a few of the new jutsus she wanted to try
out, Sakura grabbed up her notes and took off. Sakura smiled lightly. Today was
going to be�fun.

- - x - -

�� As the
sounds of the day and the warm breeze filtered through the large training room,
so did consciences stir in one individual. Half lidded eyes gazed out across
the room, sight landing upon a lovely outdoor scene of healthy trees and bright
flowering plants.

�� Shifting up
and stretching arms out, the young youth moved to get up, only to wobble
lightly and plop back down upon his futon.

�� Apparently
his leg was still lightly sore.

�� Lee sighed.
He would need to be a bit more careful. Reaching over and taking up the large
branch he�d used as a crutch the previous night, Lee once again made to get
himself up, and ready for the day. Having much more success than he once had
previously, Lee�s spirit lifted a bit more.

�� Once he was
dressed; in which he�d donned some loser fitting pants, Lee set out for his
day. He didn�t much mind the casual stroll he was somewhat obliged to take
towards his destination; in fact it left him time to think and reflect over a
few things. Lee took in the sites and sounds as he passed by, but none of them
really penetrated his deeper thoughts. Well, at least most of them didn�t. As
he was slowly walking past one establishment, he couldn�t help but hear a very
loud and very distinct voice. Lee�s smiled widened. Perhaps a quick detour was
in order.

�� Lee veered
off his original path and walked up to the outside overhanging currents of the
little establishment.

�� Ah, come
on, Ayame-Oka-San! I�m paying for Hinata�s bowl, why can�t I just have one free
one, ne? I�ve been away so long!�

�� Naruto,
please! You know I can�t be giving away free bowls like that right now; not
with the baby and all.� The woman behind the counter chided him, but in good
nature.

�� But he�s
not eating it, I am!�

�� N-Naruto,
please. . . let�s just share mine.� Hinata gently laid a hand on the energetic
young man�s arm.

�� I don�t
want to eat all your Ramen, Hinata; and you know if we share I�ll hog it all
again.� The boy turned back and rested his forehead against the young woman.

�� Then how
about I buy you a bowl, Naruto-kun? That shall solve your dilemma.�

�� Naruto and
Hinata turned to the new voice that entered in the conversation, and Naruto
jumped up excitedly, throwing an arm around the other man.

�� OI
GEGIMYU! What have you been up to, ne, ne?� Naruto laughed loudly, and even
ruffled the top of the other mans hair.

�� I have
been well; missions and training of course.� Lee laughed with him, though not
as loudly, but his smile was wide and bright.

�� He gave his
orange clad friend a pat on the shoulder, holding his hand there as he turned
to the other company before him.

�� Hello,
Hinata-Sama. Have you been feeling well since you last mission?� Lee hadn�t
been able to visit Hinata while she had been in the hospital, but he had heard
she�d gotten better.

�� I am doing
well, Lee-kun; and please, you don�t need to- to be so formal.� The young woman
smiled; her features gentle and soft.

�� I hear
that often, however it is just how I am.� The ebony haired man took a seat at
the counter, followed by Naruto taking his original seat next to the woman.

�� I shall
have a bowl of Miso Ramen, along with a bowl of ..� Lee looked to the other
man.

�� Oi� Ah� It�s
been so long, I can�t decide what flavor I want!� The blond man rubbed his
neck.

�� What ever
you think would be best.� Lee smiled lightly at Ayame, and she giggled lightly,
going about getting the young men their noodles.

�� So how
long will you be with us Naruto-kun?� Lee rested his arms on the counter.

�� Ah, well,
I�m back for a good while now, though next week I�ll be going with Ero-Sennin
on a small recognizance mission. That will only be a couple of days. Then I�ll
be back for at least a year. We still have two more main countries to visit, and
then we�ll make our way back through the smaller countries.�

�� I saved
every postcard I received from you. Some of the country sides were beautiful.�
Hinata smiled and lightly blushed.

�� Yeah, they
were. They would have been more beautiful had you been there to share them with
me.� Naruto leaned forward and nuzzled his nose against the woman�s own.

�� They both
gave a gentle hum of laughter.

�� Lee watched
them and smiled, his heart sighing for them. He had remembered the days when
they were kids, and how Hinata worked hard, like himself, to get Naruto to
notice her. For a time, it seemed like the blonde haired boy was oblivious to
her and her feelings. Lee had understood Hinata�s silent sufferings. However,
through it all, she had grown, and become strong. In no way was she the
strongest Hyuuga of the clan to date, but she was powerful in her own right.
She�d come up enough to even gain her father�s and sister�s respect.

�� Surprisingly,
she�d already had Neji�s respect, and didn�t know.

�� However,
after the tangle years ago with the Akatsuki, Naruto had surprised everyone one
day; coming home, being himself, and then promptly gathering the Hyuuga girl in
a tight embrace, and promptly telling her he hated making her wait.

�� Things from
Left field indeed.

�� As Lee�s
thoughts began to lose their gentle warmth, and start slipping into his own
memories, his was pulled back from his thoughts at the sound of a clunking in
front of him. Smiling to Ayame for the upset � though she�d probably never know
why, Lee took his chopsticks and began to nurse on the succulent ramen before
him.

�� Ah, this
is life is for.� Naruto began to dig in.

�� Heh, what,
Ramen?��

�� Well, duh.
But seriously, being here; eating something with people you love, sharing in
that kind of simple joy.� Naruto looked thoughtful for a moment.

�� Sometimes
the boy could be truly amazing.

�� Heh, all
I�d need now is Iruka-To-San here, it�d be like the old old days.� He took
another large bite and toyed with the sticks.

�� Ne,
Ayame-Oka-San. Where is Iruka-To-San, anyway, ne?�

�� Ayame gave
a look that could either have been read as slightly worried, or slightly
appeased.

�� He�s out
on a mission.�

�� NEEE?!�
Naruto stood up, staring at the girl behind the counter.

�� Since when
does he go on missions? Did he go alone? Will he be back soon?�

�� Ayame put
her hands up, and hushed Naruto and his bombardment of questions.

�� He�s fine
Naruto. He�ll be back sometime tonight or tomorrow, as it was a three day
mission. He went with a fair sized team, and you needn�t worry about him.�
Ayame smiled and gave the boy a reassuring squeeze on his shoulder.

�� Kakashi-San
is with him.�

�� Naruto�s
eye widened just a little, as his expression suddenly took on a happier one.

�� Ah, then
you�re right. I won�t worry if Kakashi-Sensei is there too. Iruka-To-San will
be fine.� Naruto still referred to the floofy haired Jounin as his Sensei. The
man was important to Naruto; though if he�d ever admit it out loud remained to
be seen.

�� Naruto
seemed pleased, and went back to eating. Ayame just chuckled.

�� Yes, he
will be fine. However Kakashi-San might not be.�

�� Eh?�

�� Oh, I know
how men are.�

�� Naruto and
Lee shared a look and gave the woman behind the counter a curious blink. Even
Hinata was wondering what the older woman�s wisdom was.

�� I�ve been
around married men before, and now I am with one. Men like to talk about how
women get together and brag and gossip about little things we do while they are
away; but don�t let that fool you.� At this she pointed a finger right at
Naruto.

�� Nee?�

�� Men are
just as bad. They too go on an on about their little ideals of gossip and deny
it all. In fact, just the other day before he left, he had a forty minute conversation
with someone in the middle of the grocery store! At first when he started
talking to the other man, I thought it was about the ramen shop; as that�s how
it started.�

�� Ayame ran a
hand through her hair and huffed.

�� I come
back forty minutes later hearing him going on and on about how he thinks his
son would be a great Genjitsu user; I didn�t hear how or why he came to said
conclusion. Then he goes off saying how the joy of being a father almost
outweighed his joy of sex.�

�� At this,
Lee snorted a bit of ramen, while Naruto laughed his ass off. Hinata became a
very commencing tomato.

�� The older
woman let out an annoyed sigh.

�� Embarrassed,
I tried to pull him away so we could leave, only for him to show me off. I love
him dearly, I do, but sometimes� argh, that man.�

�� Lee had
regained his regular breathing, and Naruto still had a fit of giggles, going
back to his own meal. Hinata was still rather red, but a smile was plastered
across her face.

�� So yes,
while I have no problem believing my husband will be safe, I feel a little for
Kakashi-San�s metal stability.�

�� I�m sure
Kakashi-Sensei will be fine, seeing as he�s use to that kind of thing.� Naruto
commented absent mindedly.

�� I just
hope Iruka doesn�t give the man ideas.� Ayame rubs her temples. �Because I
think he�s secretly doing that with everyone he talks to.�

�� What
ideas?� Lee asked innocently.

�� Of
Kakashi-San being a father.�

�� There were
times in life in which you would hear something that made you react a certain
way. Almost all the time, these things were completely random. This was such
one of those times. For a moment, Ayame thought she might have offended the two
boys in some way, as they had become deadly silent and seemed almost frozen.

�� Yet, the
slight trembling of their shoulders should have told her better. As she was
about to ask them if they were ok, they replied in kid.

�� Both bust
out laughing. Loudly, I might add.

�� It was one
of those kinds of bouts of laughter in which your whole boy shook, and you had
to clutch your sides in order to keep still; and even then that turning into
clutching your sides from the pain. Even as the pain set in, you still laughed
through tears and giggle fits.

�� Ayame
herself was lost. Hinata was lost as well, but she was amused to see them so bosteriously
happy; for whatever reason.

�� Cou-Coul
you- oh my god, could you imagine..�

�� I-I�with
that hair��

�� You�d
spot-�a crowd�so-so TADA!�

�� Tal-talk
about�. Youth!�

�� And again,
the two fell back into another round. Ayame had given up on trying to
understand. The whole thing was giving her a light headache. Hinata just
watched, silently and warmly at the two friends sharing some sort of secret
code. She was very happy to see the young man whom she felt a bit of connection
to laugh. Lately, he�d been slipping into a bit of a deep repress, like another
recently had.
�
�� Hinata was
happy. If anyone could get the normal Sakura back, it was these two. So she
continued to eat, and watch the two boy�s antics.

�� They didn�t
stop laughing for another ten whole minutes.

~ x Chapter 8 ~
��
�� A/N: A big thank you to those of you
who are with me. I apologize about the delay of this chapter. I had originally
wanted it to go on more, but I decided this was a nice spot to end with. So,
the next chapters will begin with some action. Oh, and SirCrazlot, 1 of your
theories will be bluntly answered in it. :D�
And yes, the will be more clan sequences coming too; both good and bad.
- 7
- 8
- 9
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When Flowers Wilt