—— Bloom Again ——

"Bonds aren't just about history or blood. It's something much stronger! Feelings of love. That's all you really need."

-Uzumaki Naruto

———————————

"Tsunade-sama, not to be rude, but why are we back in Konoha?" The short-haired woman questioned. This was her first time seeing Tsunade react so strongly. Not even losing a gamble could have made her react this strong.

"I've received a message. "

Shizune perked up and in her arms, Tonton the pig oinked uncomfortably for disturbing his sleep."What about the message? "

"Before the war, your uncle and I established a code so we can contact each other fast and safely," Tsunade explained, and Shizune nods eagerly. Shizune always looks forward to learning more things about her late uncle. His death in the war was a tragedy but it was inevitable. Kato Dan was a man of honour. He would definitely prioritise the life of hundreds over his own.

Tsunade continued, her voice stable but her eyes brim with nostalgic grief."Our codes are made out of colours. It was Dan's idea. Code blue would represent 'we're okay', code red represents 'we got ambushed', code green was to meet at our favourite tea spot and code yellow means our schedules are delayed be it because of the war or other stuff."

"Tsunade-sama the letter—they mention code purple? What about code purple? And could it be possible that someone else finds out about your code? "

"Code purple was to meet up at the place we both first met in Konoha. I don't doubt that someone may have intercept our letters, but Shizune, your uncle and I—" Tsunade paused, her eyes trailed across the familiar street searching for one store. "Your uncle and I came up with those code in rooms that had silent seals. No one could have understood what it meant other than Dan and me."

"So that's why we're here. You think it's my uncle?" Shizune asked

"I—no. It's quite impossible to be him," At Shizune's fallen face, Tsunade continued, "But, whoever this cherry blossom is, they must have some connection with Dan."

Tsunade and Shizune stopped at a rustic old shop. It didn't take long for someone from the shop to notice them.

"Tsunade-sama, you're back!" A girl in her teens excitedly ran towards the sannin

"Kyo-chan, look at how big you've grown!" Tsunade smiled and embraced the young teen. It has been years since she saw this girl.

"You were gone for so long! Jiji keeps telling me you were on a mission. I was worried for you!" The young teen cried out

Tsunade inwardly scoffed but her eyes soften. Of course the old man would hide the fact she ran away from Konoha. Tsunade broke the embrace and ruffle the girl's brown hair.

"Kyo-chan, while I'm very glad to hear what you've been doing these past years, do you know if anyone came looking for me this past month or so?"

"Yes, someone came by last week and left a letter for you Tsunade-sama!" The brown-haired girl lead both the sannin and apprentice into the store. Kyo reaches out underneath the counter and fishes out an envelope.

"Do you recall what they look like? " Tsunade scrutinized the envelope with 'For Tsunade Senju' scribbled at the front. Like the previous message she received, this too had a cherry blossom stamped at the bottom. Whoever this cherry blossom was, Tsunade promises herself she will find out. For it will determine the future of Konoha, if what Jiraiya told her was true.

"Unfortunately, no. I was in the storeroom replenishing our stocks but when I came back out a letter was left by the counter. It had your name on it so I kept it." Kyo replied and Tsunade nod in acknowledgment. She turns to look at Kyo and smiles.

"Thanks, Kyo. I'll see you around, kid. Shizune, let's go, "Tsunade ushers her apprentice who was looking around of out of the shop. Tonton oink at the sudden rough push. Kyo waves goodbye to her idol and the cute pig in Tsunade-sama's apprentice's hands. She really misses Tsunade. It has been 10 years since she saw her.

"Kyo? Who was it?" The hoarse voice of her grandfather brought Kyo back to reality

"Jiji! You won't believe who it is!"

::

"Now, what were you thinking trying to harm my poor little genin?" The shimmering dangerous red glint of Hatake Kakashi's eye betrayed his carefree tone. The killing intent from him was suffocating to everyone.

"Kakashi—"Gai called out

"Gai, why don't you lead the kids to pack their things up?" Kakashi interrupts Gai and Sakura straighten up. She knows when Kakashi was being serious. Without any word from Gai, she pulls both boys along away from the scene before checking over them. Gai and his own genins quickly followed soon.

"Naruto, Sasuke, any injury?"

"Sakura-chan, sensei is scary."Naruto managed to murmur out, his hands trembling from the killing intent released by their sensei. His feet trembles and finally gave up on him and he fell to his knee. His face turns pale, breathing becomes rapid and his pulse jumps wild.

Sakura kneels to the blonde's level, "Naruto, look at me." Sakura gently holds Naruto's hands. "Breathe, calm down okay." She squeezes his hands as reassurance.

Once Sakura was sure that Naruto's breathing had return back to normal, she turns towards her other teammate.

"Sasuke, you okay?" She questions the quiet boy, noting that his black eyes were wide and his fists were clenched.

"I—sensei—he has the Sharingan.Why?—I don't understand," Sasuke stuttered confusedly

"Sasuke, I'm sure sensei has a reason for having the Sharingan. We can ask him later, okay?" Sakura replies as she slowly pulls the other boy to sit beside her. She pried his fists open and interlocked their hands, giving it a squeeze too. She knows she doesn't need to say much to him. Sasuke will understand. It wasn't long until Sasuke squeezes her hand back and Sakura smiles softly.

Sakura's hand glows green as she scans her boys finding for hidden injuries and heal them as much as her chakra allows her to. Unfortunately, there wasn't much she could do as she too was going low on chakra.

"I'm sorry," She told the boys and both of them whip their heads to look at her." I don't have enough chakra to heal you both properly. Your injuries—they'll become scars." Naruto and Sasuke's eyes soften.

"Sakura-chan, there's nothing for you to say sorry for," Naruto softly reassure her and gave her his bright grin she knows and loves. The bright grin that is as bright as the sun. The bright grin that could convince anyone anything.

"The scar will be a reminder for me to work harder," Sakura told them but it was more of a statement to herself. Something like a promise.

"It'll be a reminder for all of us." Sasuke counters, his hand squeezing Sakura's tightly. "I couldn't protect both of you. Naruto almost die because I couldn't reach him in time."

Seeing as how Sasuke had opened up a little, Naruto followed soon. "I was frozen. I just couldn't move. I don't know what's wrong. I'm sorry, I've endangered everyone's life trying to save me."Naruto confessed, his own guilt and anger overflow him. Sakura's green eyes soften. She knew it was his first time facing a threat that requires violence to solve. Sakura quickly pulls the boy in and embraces him while Sasuke, albeit not as forward as Sakura offers a hand to the shoulder of his rival. Naruto understood what they meant. The boys and Sakura stayed like this even when they heard the screams of terror from the direction they came from.

"Sakura, injury report." The commanding voice of their sensei finally broke them out of their embrace. They turn to see one slightly bedraggled Hatake Kakashi standing with blood splatter all over his jounin vest—his red Sharingan eye hidden underneath his forehead protector once more.

"Yes sir, "Sakura stood up, "Both Sasuke and Naruto have some laceration wound and bruises were starting to form in some places. I've healed them as best as I could but their injuries will be scarred."

Kakashi nods, "What about you?"

"What about me?"Sakura asked, rather taken aback at his question.

Kakashi bends to be on Sakura's eye level, his hands on her shoulders, eye glancing around to see any injuries. His lone grey eye soften."Sakura, are you injured?"

"I—No." She manages to reply. Her cheeks are warm from that sudden attention from Kakashi. Kakashi had never given her that much of care when she was a genin. Sakura brushes away his hands from her shoulder only to hold it instead as she took the opportunity to inspect him too. "Are you?"

"Kakashi-sensei, we're okay, Sakura-chan healed us up! Are you okay, sensei?"Naruto's loud voice brought a smile to Kakashi as evident by the crinkle of his eye.

Kakashi shrugs away Sakura's hands and ruffles her hair before straightening up, "Maa, maa, are you doubting your sensei's ability?"

"N-no! We're just worried for you, sensei!"Naruto exclaimed

Sasuke crosses his arm, "Hn, the dobe's right. One of them kick you away, right?" Kakashi pouts, betrayed that Sasuke would give him away like that. Sakura immediately perked up.

"Sensei? Let me see," Sakura urged the older man to sit as she scan his body for injuries. His ribs were bruised and tender. Team 7 sat together silently as Sakura tries to heal Kakashi's bruised ribs.

"Sakura-san! Are you okay?" Lee questions as he approaches Team 7, his other teammates in tow. He has grown fond of her as she too comes from a civilian background like him. It further proves his point that you don't need a clan backing to be a great shinobi. All you need is effort and hard work.

Sakura's hands stop glowing as she drops her hand to her lap. "Lee-san, I'm doing well. How are you and your teammates? "

"We're doing okay, just a few nicks here and there," Tenten replied

Sakura nods, "Ah, glad to hear that then."

"Hey, Neji!" Naruto called out as he stood shakily, "Thanks for saving my life."

"It was my fate to save you," The older boy said, his lips thinned and hands crossed.

"W-what?" Naruto stammers, taken aback. To be fair, all he expects is a nod of acknowledgment not a talk about fate and all that crap!

"What he meant is that he accepts your thanks," Sakura translates, and Neji scowl in irritation. In the background, Naruto's soft 'Oh' was heard.

"Haruno," Neji grit his teeth

"Yes, Neji-kun?"

"Your team did well,"Neji said before turning away and Sakura smiles softly.

"Kakashi, what did they tell you? "Gai's question brought everyone's attention to the two jounin sensei.

Kakashi heaved a sigh, "There wasn't much he could tell me. But, from what I gather, whoever sent them was smart. They make sure these men couldn't tell a soul about them. There's a seal that stops the men from telling and then they'll start spasming, foam in their mouth, and then in a minute or two they are no more."

Gai nods firmly and Kakashi stood, ignoring the twinge of pain from his ribs."Gai, before they died, I saw some flashes of memories. These shinobis were orphans. Some of them are still young children. " At this, Gai's face hardens. So someone had purposely use orphan kids to their advantage. Gai's eyes meet Kakashi. Could it be..? A silent conversation exchanges between them. Gai nods before breaking the eye contact. 

"We need to get to Suna as soon as possible. Pack your things," Gai announces with a grim expression. The young genins waste no time in packing their things and leaving the area as quickly as they can.

::

"Sakura-sama," The brown bear calls out in urgency 

"Sora, "Sakura curtly greets the bear, her chakra masked. Sakura had told her team that she needed girl privacy before she left the inn but since she was in Suna, no one can be trusted. 

"Successfully received the report from Jasmine. Jasmine will infiltrate next week. Sakura-sama, he is in Suna." The brown bear reports and Sakura's eyes narrowed. 

"Sora, you are sure Jasmine said Suna?"

"Yes, Suna. Sakura-sama, could it be-" 

Sakura senses the dangerous chakra way before she saw him, "Thank you Sora, have some rest, you are dismissed." 

The brown bear puffed into existence at the same time a sudden swirl of sand appears out of thin air. Sakura tenses up.

"Who are you and what are you doing in Suna?" 12-year-old Gaara stood across her, his teal eyes flashing dangerously, sand swirling around him.

"Haruno Sakura, genin of Konohagakure. I'm on a mission with my team." Sakura flashes the boy a smile. Gaara seems to take a moment to consider her words, his eyes focus on her forehead protector.

"Why are you not with your team?" he questions

"I was wandering around trying to find souvenirs for my friend but I got lost. " Sakura forces her cheeks to warm up to feign embarrassment.

"Stop that, I hate liars."

Sakura raises one eyebrow as if taunting him to speak up his mind. And speak up he did. 

"Mother tells me you are lying. You are not who you say you are. You are not from here." The redhead states and Sakura had to force herself to school a poker face. Could it be? Could Shukaku know about the time travel or is the tail beast playing tricks on Gaara to turn him against her? And if Shukaku could detect her, could other tail beast do the same? 

"Who is your mother? She must be a good ninja if I can't detect her."Sakura feigns ignorance hoping Gaara could tell her more about Shukaku. 

But Gaara had other plans. "Mother, should I kill her? Mother, I bet her blood tastes delicious. Don't you want to taste her?"

Sakura decided there and then she should just leave changing Gaara to Naruto. 

"Sakura-chan, what are you doing here, on a date with a boy?" Kakashi questioned with an easy-going tone but anyone could tell he was faking it. His body was tensed. He clearly recognizes Gaara as a threat.

"Kakashi-sensei! Gaara-san here was just making sure I'm not a danger to Suna. I was trying to find the best shops to buy souvenirs for Ino!" Sakura exclaims trying to calm her sensei. The last thing she wants to do is to create an international accident while that man is lingering around Suna.

"Liar! You are lying! Mother says you are lying. You are not who you say you are." Gaara maniacally mumbles and Sakura froze. Kakashi raises his eyebrow in suspicion. Whether it was to her or towards Gaara, Sakura doesn't know.

"Maa, Sakura-chan I think the boys miss you right now. Why don't we head back to the inn?"Kakashi asked her but his eyes told her otherwise. It was no suggestion. It was an order. Sakura nods and they both mutter some sort of a goodbye to Gaara before walking back to their inn.

"Mother, you were right. I didn't even introduce myself but she knows my name." Gaara whispers before disappearing in a swirl of sand.

::

"Sakura-chan, I hope you don't wander off alone again even if it's to buy some souvenirs," Kakashi said before they enter the inn, and Sakura nods in agreement.

As they enter the room a blond flashes past Kakashi and tackles Sakura in an embrace "Sakura-chan!"

"Naruto, how are you feeling?" She asked as they pull apart.

"I'm feeling better, Sakura-chan! My bruises are all gone!" he exclaims and Sakura has to watch in amazement. All the bruises he previously had was gone. Sakura had to salute Kurama for his fast healing abilities.

"How did you heal so fast, dobe?" Sasuke questioned, his own bruises are still in sight

Kakashi tenses slightly but he showed no indication of answering the question.

Naruto shrugs, "I guess I just have a better metabolism at healing than you, Teme!"

Sasuke's eyebrow twitches but he did not argue. Sakura has to muffle her chuckles. Kurama has been disregard by Naruto as a "metabolism". 

"Kakashi-sensei, are we going to go back to Konoha tomorrow?" Sakura questions

"No, the Kazekage has invited us to stay for the rest of the week and we are of no position to decline."

"For the rest of the week? That's another 3 days in Suna, Kakashi-sensei!"

"Glad you could count, Naruto. I was under the impression you couldn't." Kakashi teases the boy and the reaction was immediate

"Hey!"

"Another 3 days in this heat?" Sasuke scoffed," What do you mean we can't decline?"

"Well, it's the Kazakage that invited us. To decline it could be seen as declining his act of diplomacy and that can cause trouble for Konoha." Kakashi explains and Sakura thought it was fair but it still made her suspicious. It was suspicious because it was the Kazakage himself that invited a bunch of genins teams to stay on his land. What could his motive be? Normal mission squads were dismissed and would return immediately after the completion of the mission. Why are they being treated differently?

"Konoha doesn't need Suna anyway," Sasuke states and Sakura wince. It was true. Konoha could flourish with or without Suna but that's not the same case for Suna. However, while it was true, it doesn't make it any less of a threat to any other eyes or ears who were also listening to their conversation.

"Sasuke, I'd watch that mouth if I was you. If you haven't noticed, we are in Suna." Kakashi warns and Sasuke's eyes widen. Naruto gulps nervously. Both understood what Kakashi meant. There might be extra eyes and ears watching their every move.

"Kakashi! Is your team ready?"Gai burst in Team 7's room, his genins following suit

"Ready for what?" Naruto asked

"Didn't Kakashi told you? The Kazakage also invited us for lunch!" Gai exclaims showing his white pearls.

Sakura's eyes widen."What?! Kakashi-sensei you didn't mention this earlier!"Naruto accuses the older man and Sakura has to agree.

Kakashi shrugs his shoulders, " Maa, maa I didn't think you needed time to dress up Naruto. Would you like us to spare you a few minutes to put makeup on?" Kakashi teases the boy once more and Naruto sputtered

Sasuke and Team Gai snickered but Sakura was worried. Lunch with the Kazakage? High chance his heirs will be there too. High chance Gaara will be there too. Looking back at her interaction with Gaara, Sakura wonders what this lunch has in store for them. She could only pray for the best.

-To be continued-

So, I'm back with another chapter. I know how much you guys want me to update so here it is!  I got my own laptop now so hopefully, I can update more frequently. No promises though!

Sakura's and Gaara's interactions really be like:
Sakura: oh hi Gaara
Gaara: SHOULD I KILL HER, MOTHER? WILL THAT SATISFY YOU?
Sakura: aite imma head out, Naruto u deal with this, I cant. Bye.

Thoughts of this chapter?

I tried writing more about Team 7's interaction in this chapter. I hope you guys enjoy that soft and fluff scene. 

Any ideas or theories on what might happen during the Lunch with the Kazagake and his family?