Anyone would think he was flying at full speed, but in truth, Trunks was advancing toward the battlefield with caution—ready for anything that might happen.
BRRROOOOMMM!
Sure enough, he was still two kilometers away when Gamabunta suddenly leapt high into the air, dodging a massive ball of wind that whooshed beneath the giant red toad, now suspended nearly five hundred meters above the ground.
That colossal wind sphere tore straight ahead as if nothing could stop it, flattening hundreds of meters of forest in a line. Trees snapped like brittle twigs under the overwhelming force, the thunderous sound echoing across the land as a single, devastating roar. The sheer velocity of the attack was terrifying.
"This is on a whole other level…" Trunks moved aside easily enough to avoid the attack, but the trail of destruction it carved left him awestruck. "A few more blasts like that and this entire forest will vanish. And if the fight reaches the village… countless people will die."
What shocked him even more was Gamabunta's agility. Despite his enormous size, the toad had sprung away with ease. But Shukaku seized the chance—while the amphibian was still airborne, he prepared another blast of wind, convinced it would strike true this time.
BAAAAAAAMMMM!
Wrong. Gamabunta opened his massive jaws and unleashed his own counterattack—a titanic water sphere. The two techniques collided far above the ground, creating a monstrous explosion that shook everything in range. The shockwave cracked the bark of trees that hadn't even been touched directly. The raw force of the clash was beyond monstrous—barbaric.
The water sphere was so vast that when it burst, it drenched an area of roughly two hundred square meters of forest as though a storm had erupted. Sasuke, Pakkun, and Temari were all soaked to the bone.
Uchiha could hardly believe it. The spectacle unfolding before him felt unreal, otherworldly. His jaw simply refused to rise back into place, quivering helplessly at what he was witnessing.
"Wh-what the hell is happening? How far has this fight escalated?" He clung to a branch that had somehow remained intact, too drained to even retreat to safety, straining his eyes to catch a glimpse of the blonde genin riding atop the hundred-meter toad—but of course, he saw nothing. That was how enormous these beasts were. "S-since when is Naruto capable of this…?"
His thoughts were interrupted when Trunks landed right in front of him.
"Took me a while to find you—your chakra's so low I almost lost track." His sharp blue eyes scanned Sasuke's battered body, noting the scratches, bruises, and cuts littering his frame. "You're lucky none of those blasts hit this spot. I need to get you out of here."
"Thank heaven you came! I'm leaving with you!" came Pakkun's gruff bark from behind, swallowing his canine pride at having to rely on Trunks for rescue. Sasuke was in the same boat. "Kakashi must have sent you—the fight's visible even from miles away."
"Yeah, I spotted the toad and the raccoon from about ten kilometers out. They looked like ants from that distance." His gaze fell coldly on the dog. Trunks never liked dogs—especially this foul-mouthed one. Goten, no doubt, would have thought differently. "Didn't even sense your energy. Lucky you hurried, or I would've left you behind." He ended with a mocking grin.
"Fine, whatever. No time to waste—this is getting out of—"
BAAAAAAMMMM!
Another titanic clash—wind against water—exploded in the distance, the shockwave rattling the trees but sparing them the drenching downpour this time.
The real problem was Sasuke and Pakkun. Trunks could take a hit like that without flinching, but the others wouldn't survive. He knew he had to move them quickly. He was ready to do just that, until—
"I didn't realize she was here." His eyes fell downward. Temari was slumped against a tree, clutching her dislocated shoulder, the aftermath of Gaara's earlier strike when he first lost control. "She's so weak I couldn't even sense her. Down there, she's just waiting to be crushed."
"That's because she tried to stop us," Sasuke muttered, forcing himself upright against the trunk. "She tried to slow us down, so we fought—and she burned almost all her chakra. Thanks to Shikamaru, mostly. He made her waste at least half her energy in that fight."
Trunks didn't hesitate. He dropped from the branch, his boots hitting the forest floor with a soft thud. He sprinted to the weakened kunoichi, curled into herself, trembling, almost in the fetal position. For her, this was worse than for the others—she had lived through Shukaku's rampage as a child, the night Gaara had killed Yashamaru. The trauma still haunted her. Facing the demon again had nearly broken her mind.
"I'll get you out of here, don't worry." He crouched down and scooped her into his arms carefully, trying not to startle her. The constant shivering of her frail body sent a bitter pang through him. "It's alright now. I'll take you to the hospital."
Those words seemed to snap her back. Her glazed green eyes regained some focus, widening in surprise at the boy carrying her.
"N-no… nothing's alright. Th-that thing won't stop until it destroys e-everything in its path…"
"Isn't that what you wanted?" The cold remark hit her like a blade. Her heart nearly stopped. "Wouldn't that be… good news—for your village?"
She broke down instantly, sobbing uncontrollably. Her chest heaved with ragged breaths, sending sharp pain through her injured shoulder, but she didn't care. She had always known this might happen. During the exams, Gaara had already lost control once—it wasn't unthinkable that Shukaku could break free completely. And now it had.
"P-please… I'm begging you… l-leave me here. I don't w-want you to take me…"
Her words were barely intelligible through the tears. Trunks looked at her with his usual roughness—her small, fragile frame trembling in his arms. His expression was cold, but inside, her reaction tore at him. No matter what, he would not leave her. The conflict between villages meant nothing to him—but seeing her like this, broken and repentant, did leave him shaken.
"Don't be stupid. I'd never leave you here to die." His words made her eyes snap wide open. She looked up at him in shock, lips parted. Her tears stopped instantly. "First I'll get you all to safety. Then I'll go back and stop that thing. I promise your brother will be fine. I won't hurt him… not too much."
With that thought, he floated back up to the branch where Sasuke stood, barely keeping his balance as the ground trembled from the titanic clash of monsters. The battle unfolding resembled the Saiyans' fight—except this time the power was wilder, less controlled, though not quite as deadly.
"Are you insane? She's from the enemy village! Everything happening is her people's fault!"
Of course Sasuke disapproved, and Temari couldn't blame him. In fact, she would have said the exact same thing in his place. She wanted to beg Trunks again to leave her… but the truth was, she was terrified. She didn't want to die.
"Then stay if you want. I'm not leaving her." Trunks turned away, the girl still in his arms, smirking playfully. "And I'll leave you with the dog for company…"
"HEY! What the hell's that supposed to mean?!" Pakkun yelped, leaping onto Sasuke's head and gnawing at his hair. "This isn't the time for pride! At any second we could—"
BROOOOOOMMMM!
They all looked up. A massive cloud of black smoke loomed over them—Gamabunta had leapt again with his usual agility, but this time he was struck midair by one of Shukaku's razor-fast wind blasts, cutting him off mid-jump. What came next was nothing good: he was about to come crashing down right on top of them. The shadow overhead grew wider and darker by the second, its sheer size blotting out the sun. It was as if night had suddenly fallen.
Reacting instantly, Trunks slung Temari over one shoulder—making her grimace in pain as her dislocated arm was jostled—then grabbed Sasuke by the collar of his black outfit and hoisted him onto the other. Pakkun clung desperately to Sasuke's head, trying not to be thrown off.
BOOOOOOM!
The impact shook the world. Even though Trunks had managed to escape at top speed, the shockwaves still caught them despite the distance.
The Saiyan had to fight to keep both genin from slipping off. Sasuke suffered the most, with Pakkun clamping down on his hair with all his strength to avoid being blown away, nearly ripping it out in the process.
"Is everyone alright?" Trunks asked, unable to see their faces with both genin slung over his shoulders. As he slowed his flight, Sasuke and Temari stayed silent, watching the titanic monsters shrink in the distance. "The worst part is over now."
"No," Temari whispered. "It's only just beginning. I told you already—that thing won't stop…"
Trunks didn't answer. They flew on in silence. Pakkun, meanwhile, discovered that flying was the most exhilarating thing he'd ever experienced. He even stuck his tongue out, savoring the rush of wind on his face. Ordinary shinobi dogs could never understand what it was like to hang your head out the window of a car—this was something else entirely.
Soon the endless sea of treetops gave way, and Trunks spotted Kakashi and the others gathered on the roof of the first building at the forest's edge. Beyond that, the rest of Konoha stretched out.
Tap.
"I found these three," Trunks said, gently setting Sasuke and Temari down on the concrete roof. Both were too battered and exhausted to move much. Pakkun hopped off Sasuke's head, already preparing to brief Hatake on what had happened. "Naruto's still there. You were right, Kakashi-sensei—it was him who summoned that massive toad."
"And what do you plan to do now?" Kakashi asked, watching Tenten and Hinata help Sasuke against the wall.
"Go back. He might need a hand." Trunks' words stirred a storm of emotion in Sasuke. "Though honestly, I doubt it. Naruto's gotten a lot stronger since Goten and I arrived. I probably won't even have to step in."
Before leaving, Trunks noticed no one had gone to help Temari. She was crawling toward the wall, dragging herself across the rooftop like a broken doll. He couldn't stand to watch, so he walked over and lifted her effortlessly into his arms.
"I don't need your help," she snapped, frowning with fierce pride. "Don't you dare pity me—I'd never forgive you."
He almost laughed, though his face stayed serious. Her scrunched-up nose made him want to. If she had any strength left, she would've shaken herself free.
"It's not pity," he said with his usual half-smile. "I'm just an idiot who insists on helping even when it's not wanted."
Being Vegeta's son, Trunks knew better than anyone the weight of pride. He understood Temari really did need help, but worded it that way so she wouldn't feel weak.
He knelt down and sat her gently near Sasuke. Just as he turned to leave, she stopped him.
"P-please… don't kill him. He's still my brother…"
"What? Don't kill him? She's insane!" Sasuke thought. "Trunks isn't that powerful!"
But the difference was clear: Sasuke hadn't witnessed the Saiyans' clash in the Forest of Death. He had no idea what Trunks was capable of. Temari did.
"Yeah," Trunks said. "I promise I won't. But honestly? I think Naruto will handle it. He'll stop him."
Meanwhile, high above, Naruto shouted:
"C'mon, Boss Toad, get me closer! I can't wake Gaara up from here! You said yourself it's the only way!"
"YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW THAT? I ALREADY HELD HIM ONCE, BUT I DON'T HAVE CLAWS OR FANGS TO GRIP SHUKAKU! I'M RUNNING OUT OF CHAKRA. ANOTHER DIRECT HIT AND I'M DONE FOR!" Gamabunta's thunderous voice rattled the forest, shaking leaves loose from the trees. "HE NEVER RUNS OUT! HIS CHAKRA IS ENDLESS! …AND MY SWORD IS OUT OF REACH. IF I TRY TO GET IT, THAT BASTARD WILL HIT ME FIRST."
"Then what do we do? Don't tell me you're out of tricks!" Naruto's confidence was fading. At first, he was ecstatic to have Gamabunta on his side—especially after the toad had sliced off Shukaku's arm with one swing. But as the fight dragged on, the balance tipped, and the giant toad showed signs of fatigue.
"LIKE I SAID, I CAN'T HOLD HIM WITH THESE LEGS… UNLESS…"
"Unless what?! Tell me, Boss Toad!"
"UNLESS YOU HELP ME WITH A TRANSFORMATION. I'M NO GOOD AT THAT JUTSU, BUT TOGETHER WE CAN PULL IT OFF. A COMBINED TRANSFORMATION. THINK OF SOMETHING WITH CLAWS AND FANGS SO I CAN HOLD HIM DOWN."
"C-claws and fangs?"
Naruto's imagination instantly dragged him into a chilling, awe-inspiring vision: that colossal iron gate, sealed shut with nothing more than a flimsy paper talisman… and behind it, a monstrous creature, the very image of a demon. A beast with massive claws and a twisted grin, wide and brimming with fangs like nothing he had ever seen before. That thing living inside him—the same one that had twice lent him that "red chakra" he had mentioned to Jiraiya during training.
"ALRIGHT, HERE WE GO!"
"W-wait!"
Too late. Gamabunta launched himself forward in thunderous leaps, straight toward Shukaku, and Naruto, small as a bug on his back, had to cling for dear life to avoid being hurled off like some pathetic fly.
"Something with claws and fangs! Claws and fangs, claws and fangs, claws and fangs!" he muttered desperately, forcing his hands into the sign of transformation. "Transformation Jutsu!"
POOOF!
The explosion of smoke was enormous, but even before it cleared, the result was clear: a massive, snarling orange fox with nine whipping tails, just as gigantic as Shukaku, had taken form.
"YEEEE-HAAAA! NOW THIS IS SOME REAL FUN!" screamed the deranged Ichibi, opening its maw wide to unleash another wind blast.
BROOOOOOOM!
Another miss. His opponent was no longer clumsy, bounding through the air like a toad—now it weaved in zigzags, fast and sharp, like a predator fox. Even the transformation carried hints of Naruto's own nature, something Trunks noted from the skies with wide-eyed amazement.
"Now he can get close! Naruto just has to wake Gaara—this changes everything!" Trunks clenched his fists in relief, a grin breaking across his face. Finally, Gaara wouldn't have to die.
But despite the hope, the battle was still brutal. Each shockwave shook Trunks' clothes, whipping his golden hair as Shukaku roared and fired one blast after another, tearing chunks of the forest apart. The false Kurama was quick, darting like lightning, but even that wasn't enough to close the distance. A direct charge would've been suicide. After all, this wasn't the real Nine-Tails.
"GUAAH-HAAA! WHAT'S THE MATTER, LITTLE FOX? CAN'T EVEN GET CLOSE?"
The sand beast laughed manically, its words nonsense for something that was supposed to be one of the Tailed Beasts. But at least it lived up to its reputation as "Shukaku the Mad."
"HE'S RIGHT. I CAN'T GET IN WHILE HE'S BLASTING AWAY LIKE THIS," Gamabunta's transformed voice growled—low, violent, and menacingly close to Kurama's own.
"It can't end like this, boss! You've gotta do someth—"
The words froze in his throat. In everyone's throat.
A kilometer away, the enormous sword that had been buried in the ground suddenly rose. No hands. No explanation. Just floating, twisting upright in the air, its tip locking on Shukaku like a predator sighting its prey.
"WELL HELLOOO! WHAT'S THIS? TRYING TO STAB ME ALL ON YOUR OWN? HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The sand tanuki cackled… but it would regret it.
SWOOOOOSH!
The blade tore through the air. Nobody saw Trunks' small frame hurl it with every ounce of his raw power—but they all saw the aftermath. The sword screamed past the sound barrier again and again, a white shock-circle ripping the air as it drove straight through Shukaku's chest, piercing clean through.
The beast staggered violently, gouging trenches in the ground with its massive feet as it was forced back, trees snapping like twigs under its weight. For the first time, Shukaku wasn't laughing—he was reeling, helpless under the crushing force of that impossible throw.
"NOW'S OUR CHANCE!"
The fox lunged in a straight line, claws sinking deep into the sand, shoulders of the stunned Shukaku. The sound was sharp, like flesh tearing. Predator and prey.
"DO IT, KID! HIT HIM HARD!"
Naruto crouched, eyes locked on the true target: Gaara, half-buried in the monster's forehead. This was it, the perfect moment. With every drop of chakra he could muster, he launched forward, fist drawn back. At the same instant, Gamabunta's transformation shattered, smoke engulfing the battlefield.
CRACK!
His punch slammed into Gaara's face, snapping his head to the side, blood spraying from his mouth.
Target hit.
Shukaku's eyes went dull, the shine vanishing in an instant. His whole body turned lifeless, brittle like wet sand drying to ash.
"NO! I JUST GOT HEEEEEERE—!"
The Ichibi froze mid-scream, paralyzed, then began crumbling away.
Gaara snapped awake, dazed, his body trembling as he tried to summon his sand one last time. A cloud of grains rose, slithering around Naruto like a coffin…
But then—
Naruto erupted in flames of red chakra. His skin burned crimson, the aura writhing like fire, savage and alive. Gamabunta recoiled, his tongue snapping back as though burned. Even Trunks froze in shock at the demonic surge.
"I'LL PROTECT THEM ALL!"
The sand coffin shattered. Naruto tore free, slamming his head forward—hard—into Gaara's skull.
THUD!
The impact silenced everything. Gaara's eyes rolled white, his consciousness shattering as Shukaku's body split apart, collapsing into a mountain of sand that buried the broken forest beneath it.
It was over.
"It's finished… From here, it's all up to you, kid." Gamabunta's voice faded, exhausted, before vanishing in smoke along with Gamakichi. The sheer gust of their disappearance sent both boys tumbling helplessly through the air, their bodies battered and broken.
And as they plummeted, Gaara, barely conscious and Naruto unconscious in his arms, one small but firm hand caught them both.
Trunks had moved just in time.
...
She let out only a faint gasp—nothing more. No matter how hard she tried, her throat couldn't produce any sound other than the weight of her heavy breathing, rushing unevenly through her parted lips.
She was defenseless—his prey. Breaking through the concrete wall behind her would've been a thousand times easier than escaping the Saiyan who pressed her body so tightly against his own.
"G-Goten… wh-what are you doing?"
While Kurenai had stepped out for a few minutes to fetch another cup of tea, Goten took advantage of the moment to make his move. He rose from the bed with an odd demeanor, fixing the kunoichi with a sharp, piercing stare that almost seemed to cut through her.
Sakura jumped to her feet instantly, knocking over the small wooden chair in the process, but she failed to stop the boy's arm from wrapping firmly around her slender waist, pinning her against the lone white wall that now played accomplice to the young Son's boldness. He had her exactly where he wanted.
"Goten, what's wrong with you?" she asked, her voice trembling—strong in intent, but soft, almost a fragile whisper.
Haruno's thin legs shook uncontrollably from the Saiyan's closeness. Even though he wore only a hospital gown, it felt as though he were practically bare—Sakura could feel every detail of his muscular torso pressed hard against her own body.
Fear was there—she couldn't deny it—but the warmth that raced through her skin was far stronger. Much, much stronger.
Goten stood just a few inches taller than her, and their eyes locked instantly. Jade clashed with onyx, sparking like two stormy seas colliding.
And then came the moment that made Sakura's heart stop—when Goten leaned his head closer. She was certain of it: he was going to steal her first kiss.
But no such thing happened. Instead, his lips brushed softly against her ear, and the warmth of his breath sent shivers racing down her spine as he whispered:
"Sakura, your forehead is so wide and charming… it makes me want to kiss it."
Her knees nearly gave out. Thankfully, she didn't collapse—his arm was still firm around her waist, lifting her easily off the floor as though she were nothing more than a delicate doll.
None of it made sense. Not Goten's bold, out-of-character behavior… and not Sakura's reaction either. At first, she had been shy and flustered, but suddenly her attitude flipped completely. A sly smile curled on her lips as she daringly pressed a finger against the Saiyan's mouth.
"Well then… there's plenty of room up there. What do you say?"
...
"SAKURAAA! Are you listening? Wake up!"
It had all been a dream. The kunoichi had dozed off in the little wooden chair beside Goten's bed. He had to call her three times before she finally woke, jerking so violently that she toppled out of the chair and landed on the floor.
"Wh-what? Wh-where are we?" Her green eyes flew open wide, her head darting left and right in alarm before she quickly recognized the familiar hospital room.
"Kurenai-sensei left a while ago for tea. She told me to wake you when she got back, and said you're supposed to keep watch over me."
"Ahhh, that's all? What a relief! Hahaha…"
Goten might've been scatterbrained, but he wasn't stupid. Sakura's pale cheeks were glowing crimson, sweat clung to her brow, and she moved with all the grace of someone stumbling over their own feet. She rubbed the back of her neck nervously as she fumbled to set the chair upright again.
"Are you okay? You don't look so good." Goten sighed in relief when she finally sat back down. Still, he pressed his hand to her forehead, making her stiffen again. "You're warm. Maybe you've got a fever?"
"Fever? Don't be ridiculous!" she snapped, quickly grabbing his wrist with both hands and yanking it away. "It's just this room—it's way too hot! There's not even a lousy fan in here!" Her face darkened as she clenched a fist at him, especially when she saw him start to climb out of bed. "And don't you dare take one more step toward me! If you so much as touch me, your wound will be the least of your problems!"
"I-I just wanted to go to the bathroom… why are you being mean again?" he muttered, puffing his cheeks like a sulking child. "You don't look pretty when you're like this. You're better when you're nice."
"What's that supposed to mean, idiot? Didn't you say my scolding was necessary?" she shot back, arms crossed, her blush only deepening.
"Yes, but now you're threatening me for no reason! I know I didn't do anything wrong this time!" His legs trembled under the blanket as he tried to sound defiant. "If you keep yelling at me, I-I'll… I'll…"
"What? You'll what?"
"I-I'll… I won't train you anymore! You're too loud a-and crazy! Yeah, that's what Trunks said I should tell you! Maybe that'll calm you down!"
The room fell silent. For a few seconds.
CRAAACK!
Sakura grabbed the chair and hurled it at Goten from barely a meter away. He barely rolled onto his back in time to dodge. The chair shattered against the wall, splintering into pieces that flew everywhere.
"That was clo—Ughhh!" His breath left him in a grunt as Sakura suddenly pounced, landing on his stomach with both knees. Her hands locked around his throat, shaking him violently as if she truly meant to strangle him.
"CHA! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, CALLING ME THAT, YOU STUPID MONKEY? I NEVER ONCE DISRESPECTED YOU! YOU'D BETTER TAKE THAT BACK AND APOLOGIZE RIGHT NOW! CHA! CHA!"
Her eyes were wild, completely unhinged. For once, Goten was right—she really was crazy.
"S-sorry! I'm sorry!" he cried, terrified. He clutched at her slender wrists, but his strength was gone. No matter how much he struggled, he couldn't pry her off. "Please, Sakura, forgive me! It was Trunks who told me to say that—I swear I won't do it again!"
"…Trunks?" She froze. Then, still straddling his stomach, she tapped her chin thoughtfully. "That makes sense. I thought it was weird for you to say something like that. When I see that bastard, I swear I'll—"
BAM!
The door burst open. Ino stood in the doorway, fuming.
"Would you SHUT UP already, billboard brow? This is a hospital! People are trying to rest! They can hear you all the way downstairs!"
"Ino? What are you doing here?" Sakura quickly scrambled off of Goten as if nothing had happened.
"Do you even know what time it is?" Ino snapped, hands on her hips, tapping her foot furiously. "It's eight at night. The invasion is over. But of course, you were asleep through the whole thing! Even after Kurenai-sensei left, you kept snoring away. Pathetic. What a disappointment."
"Th-the invasion… it's already over?"
"I honestly don't know how you ever got such good grades." Ino sighed, shaking her head. "Like I said—it's done. Lots of wounded, some dead, and plenty of destruction."
The room fell quiet. Both kunoichi lowered their eyes, burdened by the weight of her words. Families had surely lost loved ones that day—losses far worse than shattered buildings.
"A-any of the guys…?" Sakura asked carefully.
"They're fine. Sasuke and Naruto needed medical attention, but only because they were completely drained—they used too much chakra. Nothing serious. They've already gone home."
"I see…" Relief washed over Sakura, at least a little. "And you? Who are you here for?"
"Chōji," Ino answered quickly before Sakura could panic. "He's fine. It's his dad who's still under observation. A concussion—he doesn't even remember what happened before he blacked out. Long story. I'll tell you later."
"Ino! We're leaving!" her father's voice called from down the hall.
"Well, you heard him. I've gotta go." She gave Sakura a half-hearted wave before glancing at Goten. "Get better soon. Trunks will be by to talk to you."
With that, she left, slamming the door behind her.
"This day's been insane…" Sakura muttered, pressing a hand to her temple. "I just hope my parents are okay…"
"They probably are. If something had happened, Ino would've told you."
She didn't answer. Instead, she perched on the edge of Goten's bed, nervously biting her thumb while staring off at nothing.
"I told you," Goten said softly, "your parents must be fine."
"That's not it," she replied, her voice quieter now. "Ino was right. Everyone else did their part. I was the only genin who didn't do anything… I even fell asleep earlier. I'm useless."
"That's not true." Goten looked away, his cheeks faintly red. "You did something important… at least for me."
Sakura's eyes widened. For the first time, she saw something different in him—nervousness, yes, but not fear. Something else. Was Goten… blushing?
"Th-thank you for staying with me, Sakura. It means a lot. I know you really cared about me. I-I don't know why it's so hard to say this… I'm sorry…"
For a moment, she thought she understood what he meant. But she pushed the thought aside. After all, hadn't Naruto told her before that Goten thought she was ugly?
The door opened again, and both turned their heads. Kurenai stood there with Trunks beside her. The jōnin didn't enter—she simply gestured for Sakura to follow her out.
"Well… I should go." Sakura stood, heading toward the door. Yet something about Goten's words weighed on her chest, making her glance back with a small smile. "I'll come see you tomorrow. Don't worry."
She left, though she felt confused when Kurenai guided her by the shoulder down the hall, leaving Trunks behind. The half-Saiyan boy entered the room alone and shut the door firmly.
"What's going on, Kurenai-sensei? Is something wrong?"
"Nothing you need to worry about," the jōnin replied, forcing a calm smile. She couldn't tell Sakura what this was about—it was confidential. "Go home. Today was tough, and tomorrow there's still much to do. We'll all need to work together to rebuild."
"…Alright." Sakura lowered her head, feeling worse than before. Not only was she useless—she wasn't even trusted with the truth. "See you later, Kurenai-sensei. Thank you for everything."
She walked home on autopilot, her thoughts clouded. She barely noticed the ruined buildings around her—the broken windows, the collapsed homes—yet she took in enough to see that the damage lessened closer to the village center. At least her home had been spared, aside from a few shattered panes.
But one thought pounded in her head the whole way, stopping her cold as she reached for her front door.
That dream.
She tried to brush it off—it was just a dream, nothing more. Right?
But no matter how hard she tried to convince herself, she found no peace. The only other person she had ever dreamed about kissing was Sasuke, and that made sense—she loved him.
So why was Goten suddenly appearing in her dreams?
"Cha! Don't be ridiculous, Sakura!" she muttered aloud, shaking her head. "It was just a stupid dream. Nothing more. It won't happen again…"
She turned the knob, stepping inside.
But she was wrong. She'd told herself that lie so many times, her own subconscious betrayed her. That very night, she had the exact same dream again.