The Past Catches Up

By Anko-dono

Chapter 4: Which Bloodline Did You Say She's From?

"It has something to do with her bloodline limit," Tsunade told the worried Fusubi.

Sasuke was leaning against a wall while the Godaime and the other guy talked about Mitsuri's condition. Tsunade said that the young jounin was resting.

"Fusubi, you know as well as I do that Mitsuri was left on Sarutobi's doorstep, right? No one saw anyone coming. But..."

"But what?"

"After this incident, I've figured out her bloodline."

Fusubi's eyes widened slightly. Even Sasuke was interested now.

"I had a hunch and this whole thing affirmed it. You'll be surprised when you hear the-"

"Just tell me!" Fusubi said.

"OK, OK." Tsunade paused for a while. Then, "She's a Keiko."

Silence reigned.

Keiko!? Sasuke was astounded. And amazed. He thought that all of the Keiko clan were wiped out during the massive inner family killing. Mitsuri, a Keiko? The Keiko was even greater than the Hyuuga! That meant that Mitsuri was a survivor. Like him. "The Keiko clan was closely associated with my clan," Sasuke spoke up, his face calm as ever.

Until now, Fusubi was speechless. Tsunade grinned as she turned to the young Uchiha. "I know. Isn't this amazing?"

Amazing, indeed. Finally, Fusubi found his voice. "I haven't actually seen a Keiko, uh, aside from Mitsuri, but I've heard about them. The Keiko was the number one clan in the entire country until exactly sixteen years ago..."

"Come to think of it," Tsunade mused. "What happened to their clan was similar to what happened to yours, Sasuke." She hummed and walked away. "Don't disturb Mitsuri! OK? You two go home now. I'm off to celebrate with sake."

Fusubi stared blankly at the wall opposite him. Mitsuri... sugoi.

A bit dazed, Mitsuri sat up and looked around. The hospital? What was she doing there? Oh yeah, her whole body had freaked out, probably from over-exhaustion. Where were Fusubi and Sasuke? She slid off the bed and walked barefoot to the door.. Darn these gowns! Couldn't they have made ones that didn't reveal my back to everybody?

She opened the door and looked around the empty hallway. Where is everybody? What happened exactly? A lot of questions were swimming around in her head and she wanted answers badly. Still without her sandals, Mitsuri hurried to the lobby and bumped into a big nurse. "Oh- sorry, ma'am. Do you-"

Before she could finish, the nurse cut her off. "What do you think you're doing, young lady? Traipsing around the hospital with next to nothing on!"

"Well, I'm sorry," Mitsuri told her with a frown. "I didn't design these, uhm, hospital costumes."

"Go back to your room!"

"Can you at least tell me where Tsunade-sama is?"

The older woman raised an eyebrow. "What could you possibly want from the Hokage?"

"She was the one tending to me earlier, and I wanted to ask her some questions."

"What's your name, girl?"

"Mitsuri. Giraide Mitsuri."

"Ohhh..." the nurse said knowingly. "The Hokage went back to her office already. She left us a message that in case you're awake, she wants you to go to her right away."

"Great! Thanks for telling me, uh..." Mitsuri scanned the nurse's uniform with her eyes but she couldn't see her I.D. "Thanks for telling me, ma'am." She started for the exit but was stopped when she heard the nurse clearing her throat.

"You don't intend to go out wearing only that, do you?"

"Oh my gosh! Thanks for reminding me!" The kunoichi rushed back to her room and replaced the hospital gown with her own clothes. Then she headed for the Hokage's office.

Is that...? "Sasuke-kun!" A pink-haired girl ran towards Sasuke. It was too late for him to escape. "Sasuke-kun! I haven't seen you for so long! How have you been? You're a jounin now, right? As for me, I'm currently studying at the medical-nin academy..." she droned on and on while the young man in front of her furrowed his brows with annoyance.

What a stupid girl. She's answering her own questions. "It's been nice seeing you again, Sakura," he said, interrupting her seemingly endless chatter. "I have to go. See you around." He turned to leave but Sakura grabbed his arm.