As The Leaf Turns

Six: Konoha Could Stand a Makeover – The Cliff Gets a Facelift


Haruna Sakura was not oblivious. She wasn’t.
Her life’s goal of becoming Sasuke’s one true girlfriend was not within her reach. She had moved on and was now dating Lee, but refused to let him call her His girlfriend.
She was going to hold out a little longer and make sure that her fate was not completely sealed until there was a ring and a promise attached to it.
Ino had married before her, and that was okay because it wasn’t Sasuke and for that matter it wasn’t Naruto either. Her best friend had a habit of flirting with the blond ever since he had returned with Sasuke so many years ago. But, now that she was married and five-months pregnant, Ino was cooling off and becoming a better acquaintance for Sakura’s teammates.
The pink haired medic sat at the stool of the Ramen shop and waited for one of the pre-mentioned young men right now, and as she waited she wondered when her inner voice had gotten so quiet.
Normally, when Naruto was late she would be listening to it screaming at her and finding her own blood boiling in response.
But here she was sitting quietly watching the passersby and thinking of the evening she had spent with Lee and how she would be seeing him tonight again. He had told her there was something she had to see, and he wanted to be the only one to show it to her.
At first that inner voice had gotten a nosebleed and she had screamed Hentai at it before looking up at the confused face of her date and smiling reassuringly at him.
He was happy when they had parted and made her promise not to go to the Hokage Mountain today, and she had agreed.
Naruto came barreling around the corner followed by a very big white dog and a darker blur. He leapt over trash cans and up trees, running along the edge of the fence and dropping into a large bush only to emerge and climb the side of the building then drop over the other side, run along the alley and pop into the seat next to Sakura before she had a chance to react.
“Hello, Sakura-chan. How is you lunch?” he asked ignoring the panting dog at his feet and the glaring man at the entrance to the shop.
“I haven’t had it yet, Naruto. I was waiting for you, or did I misunderstand you when you said you would have lunch with me?” she said, containing her fury.
“Oh, yes. Sorry, but I had to talk to Kiba first. Right Kiba-kun?” he said to the fuming man.
“Yes, and then he felt a need to get Shiromaru all worked up and chasing him all over town. She can’t do that you know? She’s in heat. Don’t annoy my dogs anymore Naruto.”
“But, Kiba that was my whole point. She needs to settle down and raise some puppies. Girls are like that right, Sakura? Don’t you want that someday? Er, well not the puppies part, but babies, ne?” Sakura just stared back unsure what he was getting at.
“Don’t drag Sakura into this. You aren’t making your point and you know it. Now, what is this all about?” Kiba said dropping onto a stool and petting the white dog's head gently.
“Okay. So, you love your dog right?” Kiba nodded. “And you want what’s best for her? So, right now, she needs to make some puppies. Now, how do you feel about Hinata?” he asked.
Kiba blushed so darkly his cheeks matched the Inuzuka tattoo and then he stammered out, “H-Hinata? I like Hinata, fine. I mean - I care a lot, I mean - I just want, I mean . .”
“You love her, Kiba. So, why don’t you marry her?” Naruto asked.
“Naruto!” Sakura cried out, “You don’t ask someone something like that. What is wrong with you?”
“Are you saying that if I talked to Lee it would bother you? What if it got him to admit just how much he wants you, too? Think about it, Kiba. What if Hinata were to find someone else and drop you? She isn’t a kid anymore and she might want to move on. Have her puppies before she’s old. Look at Ino. She smiles so much now, and her and Genma didn’t sit around. Once they found each other they didn’t waste any time on long engagements. They are becoming a family. We are all old enough to settle down and become parents, lovers and families. I wish I were as lucky as you two. You have the one you love and all you have to do is take the final step and you could be happy-ever-after. That will never happen for me. I just want you to be happy. And I am willing to do whatever it takes to help.”
“Sakura! Sakura, Anko is going into labor and Tsunade-sama wants you to come quickly. They think she may be having difficulty. Hurry!” came the call of one of the nurses that worked with Sakura at the hospital. She looked up quickly and gathered her bag.
“She may just be. We have been watching her carefully. Why she waited till she was so far along to come to Tsunade-sama in the first place?” She said as she hurried away. “Naruto we will finish this later, and I mean it!” And with that she was gone.
“Kiba, how old is Anko-sensei?” Naruto asked the other shocked Jounin.
“I think I heard she was about thirty. Why?” the dog lover asked.
“I don’t want to wait that long. I heard it gets harder when they get older.” And he turned to the owner of the shop. “My treat, give Kiba whatever he wants and a big bowl of meat for Shiromaru. And I’ll have the Miso ramen with some dumplings on the side.”

Anko’s baby was born at around seven in the evening and the complications were minimal. She named her daughter Tsuizui, and Raido smiled so much his face hurt as much as his shoulders from all the congratulatory back slapping he received.
Sakura held the baby as she handed her to her mother.
“She is so pretty, Anko. I can’t believe she’s so tiny and yet so perfect.”
The baby only weighed in at four pounds eleven ounces but it was fine other than that. Tsunade insisted that mother and child remain in the hospital for three days of observation and they left them to sleep and get to know each other.
Sakura stood outside the doors of the room and watched the approaching green figure and smiled a secret smile. The kind reserved for women who had just watched the emergence of new life and hadn’t found the words to convey the feeling to others.
This was the second time Sakura had been involved in a birth and it still affected her this way.
“Sakura? Are you all right? We did have a date tonight. Did you forget?” Lee asked as she stared past him.
“Mmm, yes. I remember, Lee-kun. Let’s go. I’m ready.” She said still a little starry eyed.
They walked together hand in hand and when they had reached the stairs that led to the Hokage monument, Lee pulled her to a stop.
Sakura looked up at him and then followed his face as it looked up to the faces that stared back at the two.
“Tomorrow they will begin. I have seen the plans. Tomorrow we will finally see the start to the carving of the Godaime on this site. Just think Sakura. We will be able to watch something be made that will be here for our children’s children. It is like we are part of history being made. Does this not make your young blood rush through your body?”
“Lee?” she said, breathing out the name. He looked down at her and she saw a deep need in his eyes that called to her. It spoke to the inner woman and demanded that she give him something. Something as meaningful as the drive that kept her man going. Something that would mean as much to him as the mountain they stood before.
“Sakura?” he asked as she hesitated.
“Lee, you are right. This is an important time in our village. It is the best of times. I am so happy that I can be your girlfriend when such a time is here.” She said, and he looked back in shock.
“My girl – friend? And I am your, boy – friend? For reals?” he asked and she smiled and nodded watching his face transform into a mask of chibi cuteness.
Lee wrapped his arm around his girlfriend and they stood there staring up at the mountain and the stars that winked in behind the faces that stared back unseeing at the momentous event that had just transpired.

:::Awww, such sugary sap. My teeth hurt just from writing that.


Marielle – Boy, are you two reading this together. You seem to have posted reviews within minutes of my posting the chapter. Well, your diligence has won you another update. Here it is.
Oh and for the record, all men are whores if given a chance.

Vashta – Perfectly ageed with. But like the blond said, if Sasuke gives it, it will include his heart and soul. He’s not the type for that sort of playing the field. Sasuke is the type to fall and fall hard.
Some are made to go the practice route and some have to hold on till they find Mr. Right.
I met him once, and you know what? He is gay.

Next chapter is Moving out, Moving on, Moving forward
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