The girl with Pink Hair

Chapter Ten

It took Raiden, Naruto and the other leaf village shinobi four days to set up the village party. It was a lot of work but once it was all said and done, the party was immaculate. It was one of those last warm nights before fall came. Lights were hung everywhere, around the trees and above everyone's heads, tables that were beautifully decorated littered the training grounds. There was a large stage and projection screen setup. Music from the DJ was already playing as Raiden looked around doing the final touches before anyone else arrived. Neji was able to get five food carts to participate, the air smelt delicious.

"You owe me ten bucks." Raiden jumped, spinning around seeing Sakura and Carver standing behind him. "I told you he had something planned."

"How the hell did you know?" Carver shook his head.

"I know everything." Sakura responded as she turned back to Raiden. "I hear you made quite a number of new friends."

"Well...they were all just helping me with-"

"Really?" Sakura cut in, "That's what you're going with?"

"I'm sorry Sakura, but I tried to talk to you about it, but you just shut me down! You wouldn't even talk it through with me."

"Raiden." Sakura took a few extra steps closer to him. "I am the fucking Commander, I don't have to 'talk it through' with anyone."

"You used to with us, we use to be more than just your lap dogs-"

"Oh, shut the fuck up." Sakura said, "You know I don't look at you and Carver as soldiers. You two are the only ones I can count on, at least that is what I thought."

"Hey." Carver warned.

"You know what I mean." Sakura reinsured him, "Raiden, you went behind my back and for what?"

"To help bring-"

"Yeah no I heard all that already from Tsunade." Sakura sighed, looking around. "Have you thought this through?"

"I am pretty sure I didn't miss anything..."

"Raiden, your smarter than this." Sakura said, "Have you planned out who will be replacing the Waterfall soldiers when they come to this thing you put on for them?"

"Wait what?" Raiden looked up, causing Sakura to scoff.

"There are reasons why I do what I do." Sakura explained, "We know the Reapers want something out of this village, we know they already tried to send a second wave of creatures. We don't know how fast they can move right now. Having a village wide party getting everyone who can defend themselves wasted is not a smart move right now. If you would have just listened to me, I could have helped you plan this for a different time. Not when there is a possible threat staring at the gates of this village."

"I didn't think about any of that..."

"You came running into my meeting with the other commanders as if this-" Sakura looked around at the party set up, "-was more important than the village I helped build up from the ground."

"Sakura...I am so sorry I...I don't know what came over me and I-"

"I know." Sakura said, making Raiden feel uneasy about how soft she was being right now. "I know how easy it is to get wrapped up inside the Leaf Village. You forget this is where I am from, I know how this place works. From the outside looking in it's just like our village, the grass always looks greener on the other side."

"What are you saying?" Raiden asked.

"You're a shiny new toy." Carver said. "But when you're not the shiny new toy guess what you're going to be."