Author's POV

After barely managing to defeat Orochimaru's minions, the four Konoha ninjas trudged back home in despair. They were weakened considerably during the fight, and going after Orochimaru in their current state would only lead them to their deaths. For now, all they could do was go home and regain their necessary strength.

"Failed, huh?" Lady Tsuande sighed. "And you lost Kin as well." Shizune stood by in silence, while the Hokage just thought.

Captain Yamato, the one who had the second to least of injuries, stood in front of her calmly and quietly. Let's see, Sai lost some blood from ugly bloodsucking people; Naruto had a cracked rib, that was probably being healed by the Nine Tails; Kakashi fell into exhaustion form using his Sharingan so much; and Sakura had badly injured her leg, although she was able to heal it with her medical ninjutsu.

Oh yeah! And Kin was somewhere traveling with Orochimaru.

Or maybe she's in another hideout, strapped to a table, while holding a lively conversation with Kabuto, and needles and pins stuck in her body like a pin cushion.

Anyways, back to the exasperated Hokage and Captain Yamato giving her the report.

"Lady Hokage--" he was cut off by the office door slamming open. Naruto came charging in like a mad bull and slammed his hands on the desk.

"Granny Tsunade! You've got to get Kin back!" He yelled frantically.

"Naruto Uzamaki! Why aren't you in bed?!" Lady Tsunade growled. One of her biggest pet peeves was when a patient, like Naruto, kept running away from the hospital when they were still injured.

"Because I have friends to find!" The boy stated frustratedly. "It's my fault Kin went missing, so I have to get--" he was cut off with a punch in the face.

"Do you really think you can go after Kin or Sasuke in the state you are in?" Lady Hokage scoffed angrily.

"Of course I can't! That's why I want you to send someone after them!" Naruto said, his blue eye sparking with annoyance.

"Let me ask you, Naruto. You too, Captain Yamato. What exactly did you see when Orochimaru took Kin?" She had to find out exactly what happened before sending a team of ninjas to retrieve Kin in one piece.

"She didn't fight back. She went with them willingly," Yamato said truthfully.

"Was she under any illusionary technique of some sort?" The Hokage continued.

"No ma'am."

"Then I can't send a team after Kin."

"What?! Why?" Naruto demanded, furious that she wouldn't go try to help Kin.

"Because then, there's an extremely high possibility she is becoming a traitor of the Leaf and of the Cloud," Shizune said. "She may not be a ninja, however, as a doctor, she is a valuable asset to treating and caring for ninjas."

"She's just like Sasuke then!" Naruto said, his eyes wide and desperate. He didn't know Kin for a long time, but he knew she was a good person, and his Sensei was her dad. Naruto didn't want Kakashi Sensei to feel the emptiness of no family, regardless if he had many good and kind friends.

A daughter was irreplaceable.

So was Kin.

"Sasuke and Kin are two different stories, Naruto," Lady Tsunade said firmly.

"But--!"

"Enough! I will not send a team to retrieve Kin. End of discussion. Return to your room, Naruto."

"Just go, Naruto," Captain Yamato said softly, touching the boy's shoulder. Naruto backed down and left.

"You are dismissed, Captain Yamato," Lady Hokage added. Yamato bowed and left. Tsunade leaned back in her chair in exhaustion.

"Lady Tsunade?" Shizune asked worriedly.

"That boy.....he's always looking out for others," the Hokage said softly. "I'm sorry, Naruto, but I can't let you bring Kin back."