"Ah, it's you! What a relief."
A chunin standing guard at the hospital entrance greeted the small group with relief. For a brief moment, he had feared they were enemy shinobi.
"You're guarding this place alone? That's insane!"
Asuma was right. In times like these, the hospital should've been better protected—it was, after all, where the wounded were being brought.
"Y-yeah… most of the others are fighting. From the looks of it, the situation is more serious than it seems…"
"In that case, we'll have to stay," Kurenai said, glancing between Asuma and Sakura, who was still supporting Goten. "At least one of us should remain here. They might try to attack while he's recovering, and with so few shinobi left, things get complicated."
"I can do it! Up to now, my contribution to the team has been minimal. I want to change that!"
"No, Sakura. It has to be one of us—someone with more ability to handle a real threat." The kunoichi immediately felt guilty for her bluntness when she saw the disappointment flash across the girl's face. Sakura was desperate to contribute somehow. "But… that doesn't mean you can't help. It's decided—you'll stay with me."
"Then that's where I come in."
With a sharp click, Asuma lit a cigarette. Tightening his grip on his trench knives, he vanished in a blur, rushing off to rejoin the battle where he could be of greater use.
Goten may have proven himself a dangerous opponent earlier, but his condition was still far from good. After knocking out that Suna shinobi, the pain in his chest had flared again. Keeping him away from further fights was the safest choice. He wasn't completely helpless, but medical treatment remained the top priority.
The chunin's eyes followed the staggering boy with the tail as he crossed the hospital threshold, still leaning on Sakura, who refused to leave his side. Recognition dawned on the guard, and with it, fear. If this boy had been hurt so badly… what kind of monster could have done it?
"—I'm telling you for the last time, I'm perfectly fine! Is it really so hard to believe I just didn't eat breakfast properly?!" The shame was unbearable. He'd never admit that Ino's sudden approach had made him faint like an idiot from the rooftop.
"That cursed hospital served such tiny portions! They were starving me to death! Th-that's why it happened. I got dizzy because I haven't been eating properly for days, y-yeah, that's it."
His voice trailed off into a mumble, his face red again as he tried to avoid all the eyes locked on him.
"Yeah, I've already noticed that you and Goten eat far too much. Though this morning, when I stopped by the hospital, I heard a certain pair of people had cleaned out every last scrap of food. And by the way, you'll be replenishing it."
Kakashi exposed him without mercy. Trunks wasn't sure what was worse—having to answer for all the destruction and losses caused so far, or having his little lie shattered so quickly.
Arms crossed, Ino gave him a sly, feline smile that made him more nervous than before. The Saiyan had eaten well—nobody believed hunger had anything to do with his fainting spell. Only Goten might've believed something that stupid, and even then, he'd been caught up in the food fiasco himself.
"We'll discuss it later. But when all this is over, you two are going to answer for the damage to the Forest of Death, the buildings wrecked in the village, the hospital's food, the—"
"Wait, Kakashi-sensei, not so fast." Lee whipped out his trusty notebook, the one filled with Gai's teachings, and started listing everything the Saiyans owed. "That's a lot, so please speak slowly or I won't have time to—"
"YOU DAMN TRAITOR! WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?!" Trunks' head practically ballooned as he yelled at the poor bushy-browed ninja—just like his father had once screamed at Goku for showing Supreme Kai a photo of Bulma. "I'M ALREADY DROWNING IN TROUBLE, AND NOW YOU'RE MAKING IT WORSE?!"
"Sorry, I thought I was helping…" Lee tucked his notebook back into the tight pockets of his skintight green suit, his face downcast. Tenten, however, did not take kindly to Trunks' outburst.
"LISTEN UP! I'M THE ONLY ONE ALLOWED TO YELL AT LEE LIKE THAT!" The brunette grabbed Trunks by the collar of his gi and shook him like a rag doll, not caring how heavy his training clothes were. "JUST BECAUSE YOU HELPED FIX THINGS DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT! GOT IT?!"
Her breath was ragged, still holding the terrified Briefs boy in the air. He silently concluded that all the Konoha girls were complete psychos.
Messing with Tenten's patience was not wise. She was calm and ladylike compared to Sakura and Ino, but she did have outbursts like this—usually when Lee pushed her too far. That was her teammate, though. She wouldn't tolerate Trunks doing the same.
Finally calming down, she released his gi, letting him drop back to the ground.
"Sorry." She brushed a hand across her forehead, pushing back a few strands that escaped her buns. "This isn't the time for nonsense. The invasion isn't over."
"Y-you apologize for that but not for what you just did to m-me?!" He tried to sound angry at her—after all, he always scolded Goten for letting Sakura bully him so easily. But truthfully, he couldn't intimidate her at all. His legs still shook. That sudden flare-up of hers had him rattled. "C-could Hinata even snap like that, too?" He glanced at the shy but beautiful Hyuga girl. Hard to imagine her losing her mind like that… but at this point, he wouldn't rule anything out.
"Tsk. If you two weren't here in the first place, none of this would've happened."
"K-Kiba!—"
"Don't start, Hinata. You know I'm right." He fixed his sharp eyes on the Saiyan, dripping sarcasm. "Oh yeah, thanks so much for saving us all from those dumb alien women! We'll be forever gratef—! Wait a second. That's right! It's YOUR fault from the very beginning! If it weren't for you and monkey-boy, they never would've come to Konoha!"
"Enough arguing." Kakashi's flat tone sliced through the tension, especially when he saw the dark expression growing on Trunks' face. "Orochimaru may have escaped, but his involvement remains a mystery. Even with his retreat, the attacks haven't stopped. That means his supposed alliance with Otogakure and Sunagakure was just a trick. This isn't a simple invasion—he clearly set the pieces in motion for some hidden objective we haven't uncovered yet. It seems impossible that he coordinated all this with the aliens. More likely… It's a twisted coincidence."
"You ever stop to think about the odds of that? It's insane!"
"Not entirely, Gai. Remember—Goten and Trunks' battle took place recently, and according to those women, it's what brought them here. But the real problem is they mentioned someone named Cooler…" His sharp gaze fell on Briefs. "—Supposedly stronger than both of them."
"Don't pay them any mind."
"That's not true, Trunks. If you had eliminated them, they wouldn't have been able to deliver any message. We might've avoided this entirely."
"No, you don't get it. They're part of an organization that conquers and sells planets. If they failed, their leader would've noticed immediately and come here anyway." He jabbed his thumb at himself with a sly, cocky grin. "Even if he's insanely strong, Goten and I have a little trick up our sleeves no one's seen before. We can't lose. Stop worrying about that and focus on what's left of this invasion."
Was it blind arrogance, reckless confidence, or truth? Hard to tell. But Goten wasn't in any shape to fight someone that powerful—his recovery was vital, and time was against them. With a sigh, Kakashi shook his head and lifted his headband, revealing the crimson Sharingan.
"You're right. We'll talk about it later. We can't waste time while Lord Hokage is handling this chaos with the ANBU. He left things in Gai's and my hands for a reason."
The moment he finished speaking, Trunks pulled out the only capsule he had on him and tossed it into the air.
BOOOM!
Tapion's sword spun in the air, slicing the wind with a whistling song that only highlighted its deadly edge. In the hands of a Saiyan, it wasn't just a weapon—it was an extension of his arm.
Catching it by the hilt, Trunks twirled it with practiced grace before gripping it firmly. So heavy, yet he wielded it as if it were wood.
From his spot, he tossed the now-empty capsule toward Ginyuu's idle pod sitting ten meters away.
BOOOM!
Smoke swallowed the ship whole. When it cleared, only the tiny capsule remained on the ground. It was still mind-blowing how something so small could store something so huge. Way more practical than those old-fashioned scrolls.
Tenten almost wanted to ask him for one… but after beating him down earlier, she doubted he'd share. Regret tugged at her a little.
"We'll check that witch's ship later. Maybe it has useful info. For now, we need to take care of—"
His green eyes went wide. Ino frowned, wondering what the hell had crossed her teammate's mind now.
"D-did you guys do something with Ginyuu's body?"
Kakashi's head snapped around like someone had just told him Hana Inuzuka was in a black bikini—not out of lust, but from the sheer urgency of confirming it.
"It's gone…"
"—I'm guessing you burned it with a jutsu, right?" Trunks tried to downplay it, nervously spinning the sword in his hand. "—I mean, there's no way he regenerated and is walking around… right?"
"No. That's not it." Trunks could swear he saw a flicker of rage twist Kakashi's masked face unnaturally. "I see. So in the end… Orochimaru really did get what he wanted. Lord Hokage needs to know."
At Hospital...
"Thank you, Sakura…" He couldn't help but chuckle as the girl struggled to pull off one of his heavy boots. She even wanted to do that for him, as if helping him into bed wasn't already enough. "I can handle it. You've already helped me plenty."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say…" She sat down on a small wooden chair beside the bed, a bit tired, turning her attention to Kurenai, who was still at the door, barking orders at the doctors and nurses about the urgency of Goten's condition.
The day was overwhelming—staff were swamped with injured shinobi arriving one after another. In fact, the bed Goten now rested on was the last one available in the entire hospital.
"You'll see, you'll get better soon. Just wait for them to treat you."
Her perspective had changed completely. When Ginyuu injured Goten, Sakura was in shock. She truly thought he was dead. And even when she later saw him alive, her hopes didn't rise much—the wound was horrific, and she doubted he'd make it.
Now, she couldn't believe how resilient he was. She realized right away it had to be his hybrid nature—his body was built for combat.
That thought made her notice his appearance. Her green eyes wandered across his bare torso, streaked with dried blood and marked with scars. She was so absorbed that she didn't even help when he slowly lay himself down.
It was instinctive—she reached out without thinking, letting her slim fingers lightly trace a small scar that started below his sternum. She seemed curious about its texture, but instead of focusing on the scar, she shivered at how hard his stomach felt.
"Ugh! Idiot, Sakura! Of course it's hard, what did you expect? The moron trains day and night like a maniac. It's nothing special…" She scolded herself internally. Kami, he was injured! She shouldn't be thinking about things like that—it was inappropriate, completely out of place. But it was hard to ignore. Even lying down, his abs were ridiculously defined, every muscle perfectly carved.
She quickly realized she was still running her fingers over his stomach. Snatching her hand away like she'd touched hot metal, she thanked heaven for Goten's usual cluelessness. He didn't seem to notice, especially not her flushed cheeks.
"Did it hurt?" she asked, her voice awkward. His confused look made her stumble. "Wh-when you got those wounds… did it hurt?"
He just shrugged. Sakura's strange behavior puzzled him.
"I guess it did, but I don't really remember. Why are you asking me that now?"
Silence fell. Guilt pressed heavily on her. She had already confessed her regrets to Naruto after that first night in the Forest of Death, apologizing for all the times she belittled him. But she'd never said anything like that to Goten.
"I… I… I'm sorry! I really am, do you understand?!" She clenched the white sheets in her fists, biting her lip and fighting the overwhelming urge to break down into tears just to free herself of the guilt. "That time we were on watch, when I said you were just a childish boy who didn't know what it meant to fight for others… please forgive me! I didn't know what I was saying!"
Her words came fast and loud, like she'd sprinted five laps around Konoha without stopping—the way her chest heaved and shook showed just how out of breath she felt. But relief washed over her when she saw that instead of looking angry, Goten was smiling that usual, gentle smile of his.
"I'd already forgotten about that!" he said cheerfully, though his grin faded little by little.
"I'll admit, it stung a bit. Trunks is my only friend, and nobody else really wants to be. But don't worry, I know you scold me and even hit me sometimes, though maybe I deserve it—"
He froze, eyes wide in panic, as Sakura suddenly covered her face and started sobbing.
"Did I say something wrong? Are you in pain?!"
"N-no, you idiot." She fought with everything in her not to break into a wailing cry, wiping the few tears that slipped down her cheeks with the back of her hand. Her shoulders rose and fell with her shaky breaths. "Wh-why do you have to be so damn difficult all the time?"
"Me? Difficult? What did I even do this time?"
"Y-you were you! That's what you did! You like making me feel bad, don't you?!"
The poor Saiyan, battered and bleeding, now found himself accused of something he couldn't even begin to understand. Grabbing at his messy black hair, he looked like he had the worst headache of his life.
"Sakura, I swear I don't know what I did this time. Just forget it, okay? Whatever it was, I'm sorry! Just stop crying!"
He didn't sound repentant so much as desperate—terrified even—that he'd upset her without knowing how.
"Fine, I forgive you this time." She was shameless, really—using the chance to wash her hands of the whole thing without explaining herself. "But only because you're hurt and need rest." She rubbed her cheeks dry with her fingers, finally calmer. "Make sure you recover soon. Remember, you promised to train me, and I'm already falling behind everyone else. I'll be waiting."
"Don't worry. In no time, you'll catch up, and you'll be surprised by your own results."
It seemed Kurenai had waited until their conversation ended, because right then she gestured from the doorway for Sakura to leave, letting the doctors and nurses come in. It was a coincidence—she hadn't overheard a word.
Sakura stood, reached out, and affectionately ruffled Goten's hair, giving him a wink and the warmest, most genuine smile she had.
His reaction was different this time. He kept watching her until the door shut behind her, completely ignoring the nurses tugging off his blood-soaked gi. They gasped at the gaping wound in his chest—big enough to fit an entire fist. The real shock was how someone with such a monstrous injury could still look like he was doing so well.
Why was Goten staring like that? Because for the first time, Sakura had treated him differently. She had shown him kindness, and to him… she looked like the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.
Meanwhile...
It was the first time he'd flown over Konoha since moving there, all to avoid drawing attention while traveling with Goten. This time, what mattered was buying time—the situation demanded it. There was no room to worry about appearances.
Placing his trust in him, Kakashi gave Trunks permission to act on his own judgment and help stop the invasion. Meanwhile, the rest of the group split into two teams: Gai left with his two students and Hinata, while Hatake departed with Asuma's students and Kiba. On the way, he figured he'd ask Inuzuka if his sister had already turned eighteen.
"This is bad…"
Most of the fighting had ceased, leaving behind a grim battlefield littered with corpses. Many of them belonged to shinobi from the Sand and the Sound, but even so, the number of fallen from Konoha was significant.
The metallic clash of shuriken and blades could still be heard here and there. But the Saiyan's attention was fixed on the three massive brown serpents, visible even from a great distance, tearing everything apart with the sheer force of their enormous, muscular bodies. Each was only slightly smaller than Manda.
Konoha's chunin and jonin shouted orders nonstop, hurling kunai with explosive tags and casting fire-style jutsu in the form of massive fireballs from the rooftops—all against the rampaging trio of enraged serpents that seemed impervious to the attacks. They were colossal.
"I should help with that." Trunks gripped his sword with both hands, his expression sharpening, ready to unleash a blinding slash aimed cleanly at the throats of the towering reptiles.
BAAAAAAMMM!
The ground shook violently from a monstrous impact, followed by a massive cloud of smoke that completely obscured the battlefield—right where the serpents had been.
"Wh-what the hell is going on?"
The sight that followed was staggering. After a few tense seconds, through the smoke emerged a colossal green toad, crashing down with its overwhelming tonnage onto one of the serpents. It simply crushed it.
The beastly, out-of-control serpent let out ear-splitting screams of agony, vomiting great streams of blood that splattered across nearby rooftops. Its upper body thrashed violently, flailing in madness. But it didn't last long. Within seconds, life fled from the reptile. With another thunderous crash, it toppled over, crushing a pair of houses in the process. Thankfully, no one was inside.
"Been a long time, Ibiki!" came a booming voice from an old man standing atop the toad Gamahiro. His long white hair nearly reached the ground. "Looks like you've grown a bit—you're not that scrawny little brat anymore!"
When Trunks turned his attention to the man Jiraiya was addressing, he realized it was the intimidating jonin who had overseen the written exam. The one with a voice like Mr. Piccolo's. He couldn't help but shiver at the thought of the towering Namekian lecturing him and Goten.
"I see. I thought I'd have to fight the toad, but it looks like he's on our side. That weird old man's controlling it."
This time, Trunks took the lead. While Jiraiya struck down the serpent that was about to attack, Trunks went for the other two, as the boastful Sannin told the shinobi to stand back and watch how he handled things.
SLAAAASSHH!
A single slash rang out.
PAAAAMMM! PAAAAMMM!
Two gigantic heads hit the ground one after another.
Trunks had taken out the remaining serpents before Jiraiya had even finished a hand seal. Despite the tiny size of his sword compared to the monsters, he sliced their throats cleanly—like a razor-sharp Kienzan disk from Krillin, or like Goten when he killed Manda.
The massive bodies still twitched, their primitive reflexes lingering for a moment longer.
"So it was you!" Ibiki exclaimed, a bit calmer now, forcing a smile as beads of sweat rolled down his face. Hearing rumors was one thing, but seeing the boy obliterate the beasts in the blink of an eye was something else entirely.
Jiraiya was left speechless as he watched the Saiyan hold up one of the severed serpents with a single arm, preventing it from collapsing onto a house below. The damage around them was already catastrophic. Still, he couldn't stop the second one, which clipped the side of a building and tore off part of its wall. Thankfully, the structure didn't fully collapse.
"There's no doubt about it—this kid is one of them."
The ground shook slightly as Trunks hurled the serpent's corpse aside, aiming for an open area. The sight was insane: the boy looked like an insect compared to the massive reptile. "I refused to believe Kakashi when he said they were even stronger than Tsunade. But now I see he wasn't exaggerating…"
"Where the hell did those serpents come from? And how did you summon that toad?" The Sannin was genuinely impressed when the Saiyan landed a few meters away, standing atop Gamahiro's head.
"It's a summoning, kid. Never heard of it?"
"If I had, I wouldn't be asking, old man." Trunks crossed his arms, giving him a sharp glare—quite the rude tone. "Though I did see Kakashi do something similar with a dog. A real bastard, that mutt. But this is on another level."
"Just as you said, huh, Kakashi? I suppose the other one must be that clueless monkey-tailed fool. Well, either way, it doesn't matter. For someone who uses ki, this isn't something you can learn—not even if you tried, you arrogant brat."
"Tch. Like I care."
BAAAAMMM!
Off in the distance, something even more incredible caught Trunks' eye. A giant—easily fifteen meters tall—towered above the rooftops. He had a thick mane of red hair, not as long as Jiraiya's, but striking nonetheless. He wore something resembling armor and was massive in girth.
The colossal man looked down, swinging a gigantic staff from side to side as he attacked a group of shinobi. Trunks thought he looked familiar but dismissed it as his imagination. Surely, it was just another monstrous enemy wreaking havoc on Konoha's defenders.
"More of these summons keep showing up! Sorry, but I'll handle that bastard!"
"Wait—don't!"
ZAAAAS!
Too late. Jiraiya couldn't stop him in time. He barely managed to stretch out an arm before the boy was gone.
"Damn it, you little brat! Now I've got to stop him!"
Surrounded by a golden aura, Trunks rocketed forward, charging straight at the enemy he thought he was about to face. Poor Chōza Akimichi had no idea what was coming.
"It's important to you, isn't it?"
Kurenai watched the restless kunoichi, who sat in the waiting room nervously fidgeting with her fingers. She finally had to ask, hoping to calm her down, since the girl's anxiety was starting to affect her too.
"O-of course it's important. He's my teammate. If it were Naruto, I'd be just as worried."
"I figured." Although Sakura hadn't responded rudely, the way she looked at her made Kurenai raise her hands in mock self-defense, trying to ease the tension. "But that's not what I meant…" Haruno's expression said it all as she realized what was coming. "Do you feel something more than friendship for Goten?"
Her face betrayed her. Faintly, but enough—her pale cheeks flushed a delicate shade of pink.
"M-me? Pfft! Please! HAHAHA!" Her loud laugh and hasty answer suggested the opposite. She even waved a hand dismissively, as if brushing it off. "Haven't you noticed? Goten is my friend, but there's no way I could like him. Not in a million years! For starters, there's that horrible monkey tail. Then there's his weird hairstyle—I still don't understand why he even wears it that way. His gi is a ridiculous color and…" She ran out of excuses. Sakura wasn't acting natural at all. "Do you need me to keep going, or did you get the point?"
"No, don't worry, I understand." The jōnin smiled warmly, lifting her hands to let Sakura know she could stop.
Silence settled between them again as they stared at the pale door of the room that hadn't opened in several minutes. It had been a long time since the last nurse went in carrying a bundle of bloodied gauze, which only deepened Sakura's anxiety.
"I see it a little differently." Sakura arched a brow at her. "You see, even though I'm an adult woman, & I don't have much experience with dating or relationships. But I can tell when a boy is attractive. Don't take it the wrong way, but I think Goten is handsome for his age. I don't see why a girl couldn't be interested in him. There's nothing wrong with that."
And she wasn't lying. Still, she was trying to get Sakura to lower her guard, because she suspected the girl wasn't being entirely honest. Sakura was still too young to take those feelings seriously, but Kurenai knew from experience that bottling such things up only hurt more. It was better to accept them—even if they remained a secret. Whether she liked one boy or even two at the same time, it was better to admit it than to wrestle with denial as she was now.
"W-well, it seems we have very different opinions… but I respect yours if that's what you believe…"
Kurenai closed her eyes and smiled in amusement. Truthfully, she was enjoying the conversation. It distracted Sakura from her worries—that was part of why she'd started talking in the first place.
"Sasuke is very handsome, too. I've heard all the girls in Konoha your age say the same. Or am I wrong?"
"Of course, that's obvious! Sasuke is the coolest!" She clenched her small fists with determination and answered quickly, her tone far more decisive than before. "Sasuke is the most talented genin of our generation. He graduated with honors, and every teacher couldn't stop praising his genius. He also comes from a prestigious and respected clan, and on top of that, he's incredibly good-looking, just like you said. But that's not all! There's something about him that makes him fascinating: he's reserved, quiet, a little aloof and solitary, I know—but that gives him an air of mystery and, of course, a unique charm. It's like you never know what he's thinking, and that's amazing."
She felt confident saying that to Kurenai, even though she didn't know her well. After all, she was a girl too, and pretending not to notice the obvious would've just made Sakura look foolish.
"I see. At least this time you've been very honest." The jōnin shook her head slightly with a smile. What a complicated age! She remembered those years of her own youth as if they'd happened yesterday. "Many of the things you said are true. Sasuke is definitely a genius, something we jōnin have known for a long time. I'll admit it, I even wanted him as my student at first." Her smile widened at the memory, though she wouldn't trade her current team for a thousand Sasukes.
"That's why I thought it was unfair at first when they added an extra genin to your team—especially after hearing about his skills! You have to admit, Goten is a genius in his own way, too."
Sakura's eyes widened, as if she had just learned something amazing.
"In my opinion, he's even more mysterious. He might seem predictable and simple, with basic tastes, but I still wonder so much about his past. Can you imagine how powerful his enemies must have been? Not just anyone could leave scars like that. And why did he have to fight alongside Trunks? Children shouldn't be forced to take on adult responsibilities."
Sakura had thought about the same, but far more superficially. Surely, their enemies had been monsters—maybe even stronger than the ones they'd recently faced.
"Not only that. The thing I wonder the most is—why does Goten act the way he does? He should be cold and bitter after everything. Yet he seems like the happiest person in the world. Nothing bothers him for long, and he takes everything with such innocence. Hinata has mentioned it to me more than once. She thinks he's a very good boy."
Kurenai wasn't trying to "advertise" Goten or change Sakura's mind about him. She genuinely believed that. And truthfully, she often asked herself the same questions about him in private. Now, talking to Sakura, she simply felt the need to share them with someone who happened to be one of the people closest to the Saiyan in the shinobi world.
"I see…" Sakura's voice faltered. The thought saddened her. Even though Goten had forgiven her, she couldn't forget how she had misjudged and mistreated him the day they first met. Nobody else had done that. Even Hinata had a good impression of him from the very beginning. Why did Kurenai have to mention Hinata? It only made her feel worse. "I… I think Goten is amazing too…" Her voice was so soft it was barely audible, in stark contrast to the passion she'd shown when talking about Sasuke.
"He may seem clumsy and predictable, but there are things about him that spark my curiosity. And he's kind to everyone—even to me. He's never answered me rudely or mocked me, even though he has plenty of reasons to. Meanwhile, I've insulted and belittled him more than once…"
She remembered the night before the written exam, when she had run into him on the street. She had been panicked about not having trained all week, but Goten reassured her, promising to protect her and not let anything bad happen. He even apologized for his innocent joke about her forehead and told her he actually thought it was cute. Coming from him, she knew it wasn't just empty words.
Sakura had always struggled with low self-esteem. No matter how much she tried to change, she put on a strong front to hide her weaknesses—belittling Naruto and even Goten in the process. But there was something about him: whenever Goten smiled at her, she truly felt uplifted. To him, she mattered—maybe more than she deserved.
Kurenai could almost read the girl's thoughts, and before she realized it, a silly smile had crept onto her face.
"Here's a piece of advice." The jōnin stood up, stretching a bit without looking at Sakura. "Don't be ashamed of what others might think of you. Choose the things that make you happy without fear—the things that make you feel good about yourself. Just think about it." She turned and walked down the long hallway, off to get a cup of coffee if there was any.
Those words left Sakura thoughtful. Stubborn as ever, she had always refused to admit it, but Kurenai was right. She cared far too much about what others thought of her. She hadn't really changed from that little girl who used to hide her big forehead behind her bangs. And worst of all—it was all in her head. Because, despite being so careless or naïve at times, the other genin respected Goten in their own way. In fact, most of them thought he was even more impressive than Sasuke.
"But he's half alien. Of course he is! That makes things easier. If I were half Saiyan too or whatever, I bet I'd be stronger than him without training so much…"
Later, Sakura would learn the hard way the same lesson Asuma had taught Trunks on the day he sparred with Rock Lee: even if someone had access to such power, not everyone could bear the responsibility that came with it. It required sacrifices.
BAM!
She nearly jumped out of her seat. Lost in her thoughts, she hadn't expected the door in front of her to burst open. Her worst fear struck her: that Goten's condition had worsened, and the nurse had come rushing out to call for more help.
"SAKURA, HELP ME PLEASE! FOR THE LOVE OF KAMI, SAVE ME!" The boy came running in terror, wearing nothing but white boxers to keep from being completely naked.
His wounds had been freshly bandaged, white wrappings covering his right shoulder and chest where the massive gash had been.
He clung to her like a frightened child, trembling in fear for some reason she couldn't understand.
She should've been furious at him—ready to hit him for such recklessness. And she tried, with all her might. But she couldn't. She froze, powerless, caught in the strength of those arms around her.
And when Goten lowered his head, burying his face in her neck, his rapid breathing warmed her skin in a way that made her heart race.
"That evil nurse wants to inject me!" He pulled back just enough to grab her shoulders, his eyes wide with terror. "You have to help me! Those things hurt so much! Please, I'm begging you, get me out of here!"
"Catch him, don't let him escape!" one of the nurses shouted, sprinting after him with the dreaded syringe in hand.
Sakura was in shock. Goten, nearly naked, pressed up against her—too close. She couldn't even move. And what's worse, she wanted to hit him for being such an idiot. How could he be afraid of a little injection after everything he had fought? Giant snakes of Orochimaru included!
But instead, he clung to her, gripping her arms tightly. Startled, he even lifted her off the ground a little, using her as a human shield.
Sakura wasn't heavy, not at all—but being lifted so effortlessly by him was something else entirely. She couldn't feel what he felt, but she knew for certain she must have seemed lighter than a feather in the Saiyan's hands.
She shook her head, snapping out of her daze. She had to put an end to this madness right away. And she didn't want anyone noticing how red her face had become.
CRACK!
She threw her head back, slamming it into his face. Stunned, Goten instantly let her go, clutching his nose with both hands and wincing.
"Aagh! Wh-why would you hit me?!" Tears welled in his dark eyes as he looked at her with the sorrow of someone betrayed. "You're supposed to help me, not—AAGH!"
She grabbed him by the ear and dragged him back into the room. Goten yelped in pain, hopping on one leg as he pleaded for her to let go.
Inside, the room was a disaster. The bed had been flipped upside down, the wooden chair thrown through the window like in an action movie, and several doctors and nurses lay scattered on the floor—all because of Goten's frantic escape attempt.
"That boy's a monster! Where does he get so much energy? In his state, he shouldn't even be able to move!"
"Don't worry, I've got it under control," Sakura muttered through gritted teeth, her anger boiling over.
The doctor swallowed nervously at the sight of the young girl who, somehow, had the power to subdue the "untamable beast."
"All this fuss over a stupid injection… aren't you ashamed?"
"Th-the thing is…"
"A boy as strong as you shouldn't be afraid of something like this." She placed her hands firmly on her hips, while Goten rubbed his reddened ear. "Who told you injections hurt so much?"
"M-my dad…"
The staff nearly fell back again, not from a push this time, but from sheer disbelief. What kind of idiot father would fill his son's head with such nonsense?
"Have you ever even gotten a shot before?" Sakura took a deep breath, struggling not to curse Goku even in his absence.
His wide-eyed, fearful shake of the head was all the answer she got.
Sakura sighed. She was embarrassed and angry over the ridiculous scene, but she held back. Just this once. Goten had been there for her so many times before. Now it was her turn, even if the situation was absurd. Because the fear in his eyes—that was real. And maybe that was what changed her mind.
"Listen, I promise it won't hurt. Just a tiny pinch, that's all. You won't even feel it."
"No! I told you, it hurts too much! I won't—ugh!"
Sakura seized his face with one hand, squeezing his cheeks so hard it scared him more than the injection. His eyes went wide, and a wicked grin spread across her face.
"You're going to let them give you the shot. It's for your own good. Or else…" She raised a fist close to his face, speaking each word slowly and menacingly— I'll grab your tail and spin you around over my head. Got it?
He could only nod and swallow hard, his heart still racing.
"Good." Finally, she let him go.
She turned to leave, certain the nurse could handle it now. Goten must have gotten the message.
"But only if you do it." She stopped in her tracks, her green eyes widening. "If… if you give me the shot, it won't scare me as much."
The nurse handed Sakura the syringe. She was shocked at how much trust Goten was placing in her, and it took her a moment to accept it.
"Do you know how to do it?"
"S-sure. I've… done it before."
Sakura gave up. She didn't even care if everyone in the room saw her bright red face anymore. She was tired of hiding it.
The bed was set back upright, and Goten sat down.
As she dabbed alcohol on his skin, just under his right shoulder, she asked him to breathe deeply and relax. Otherwise, the needle might bend against his well-toned muscle.
"All done! See? That didn't hurt, did it?"
"Don't lie!" he shouted with his eyes shut tight, lips trembling as if about to cry. "You haven't given it to me yet! You're just trying to trick me!"
"Don't be stupid. Open your eyes and see for yourself."
He did it very slowly, just like someone bracing themselves to be hit. Instead, he was met with Sakura smiling at him, holding up the empty plastic syringe.
"There, all done. Now you should"
Before she could finish, Goten jumped off the bed and wrapped her in a huge, tight hug—so strong that Sakura's feet lifted off the ground. He was overjoyed that everything had gone so well. He couldn't believe he hadn't even felt the needle.
The kunoichi dropped the syringe in shock. Her eyes widened, her face burned red. She hadn't expected such a display of affection. Slowly, she raised her small, trembling arms and hugged him back.
"Thank you, Sakura! Your injections don't hurt!"