Sakura gulped at the dark look in Sasuke's eyes, 'Was Sasuke - kun this scary before?'
Naruto though looked at him in wonder, "Oh! I don't think I ever belonged to anyone before."
Tanna chuckled, "That is what happens when you are engaged Naru - tan. You legally, emotionally and mentally belong to another and they belong to you."
Sakura looked at Kuroda and looked down when the handsome man smiled gently at her making her voice wobble, "That is a nice feeling and thought. I wish you and I met in our world too, Kuroda - san."
Tanna frowned as she moved closer to them, "Sakura - chan, look at me. Are you alright?"
Sakura's lips wobbled as she sniffled, "No? No, I am not."
Tanna hummed opening her arms, "Want to tell me? It will not go outside this room, I can promise you that much."
Sakura moved then threw herself into the hug sobbing, "I.. It is just that, we have been trying to get Sasuke - kun to return but he keeps turning us away. I just want him back home with us all, safe and sound."
Naruto looked down nodding, "He even told us to stop looking for him as we were weak."
Sasuke hugged the blond getting a surprised squeak, "Oh Naru - koi."
Sakura sobbed clutching the brunette's shirt, "There are times I just want to give up but what sort of friend and teammate would that make me?"
Tanna pat her head, "Let it out, Saku - tan. Let all the negative emotions."
Sakura hiccuped, "I wish I had you in my world as well, Tanna - Sensei. The me in this world sounds so happy, content and accomplished, while I... I have barely anything to show. I am so jealous of her right now even though, she is me. Do I make any sense right now?"
Tanna patted her back gently opening her arms for Kuroda, "You do, do not worry. It is alright and normal to feel wronged. To feel envy and jealousy towards others. However, it is also important to talk about these feelings with someone too. That way, you can let go of these feelings and focus on yourself."
Sakura leaned against the brunette as she felt another join the hig, "You smell so nice and you look so pretty too. I really wish I had you as my Sensei."
Anko walked in with her usual flamboyance, "What's this? What's this? Is my beautiful girlfriend planning on adopting inter - dimensional kids, now?"
Sakura choked on hearing that, "Girlfriend? You two are together? You are together with Anko - san, the terrifying Snake Mistress of Konoha?"
Tanna chuckled, "She is a true gentlewoman once she is outside of the uniform. Believe me when I tell you, the most well mannered gentlemen and ladies are the terrifying shinobi and kunoichi that run the place."
Anko leaned down to kiss her, "Damn right about that! I brought dinner and your friends followed me too. They are down stairs."
Naruto spluttered and protested, "Hey, that's my nee - chan."
Sasuke chuckled and kissed his lips, "Now, now, settle down. I am here with you."
Naruto shut up, 'He just... Sasuke - kun just... '
Sakura's brain shut down, 'He just... Sasuke - kun just... Kissed... '
Tanna chuckled at their reactions, "Oh dear! How about we ease up on the affections? It is obvious these two are not used to it?"
Anko huffed, "You mean they need hugs and kisses. Look at them, just one smooch and they are blushing like five year olds who just understood what romance is."
Sasuke smirked as he purred, "Maybe ~ I should give you more kisses."
Naruto snapped out of his stupor as he shrieked, "Sasuke - teme, you pervert."
Sasuke chuckled as Naruto scrambled out of his hold to hide behind Tanna as he tried to stop the embarassed blush from spreading all over his face. Tanna chuckled gently as well as she comforted the blond while he mumbled about how he never thought Sasuke of all people could act like a cassanova. Anko grinned, as she said Sasuke was only that way towards Naruto and Naruto was no different from Sasuke either when they are together. That made the blond teen squeak out denials saying he was not that smooth nor perverted. Tanna corrected him, saying that showing love through kisses was not perverted when it is mutual, it is only when there is no consent it becomes perverted. Naruto stared at her processing the information while Sakura tried to calm down from her own freak out at what she saw.
Tanna clapped her hands, "Alright then! That is enough teasing. Time to eat. I do not think, you two have eaten at all."
Naruto answered meekly, "No, nee - chan, I had breakfast with Iruka - Sensei but after that we were busy with the clan stuff."
Tanna got up heading to the table with chairs, "Thought so! Sit next to me Ruru. Saku - tan, you too, come over here."
Sakura shuffled next to her accepting a plate of food, she was starting to feel really shy under Kuroda - san's gaze. She thought she was in love with Sasuke - kun and would not feel attracted or love for anyone else. Kuroda - san's warm, kind and understanding presence was changing that thought process pretty fast. Then, there was Sasuke - kun and the way he stared at Naruto almost possessively. She wanted to shout that was not how Sasuke - kun behaved but she had seen how Sasuke - kun treated the items, he had left from his family. It was the same type of care, gentleness and possessiveness that he had shown while glaring at anyone who tried to get close to him. It was the first time she felt a little scared to approach him and had given him space though Naruto had not gotten the memo and kept bugging him.
Sakura took a deep breath, "Tanna - Sensei, sorry for crying on you earlier."
Tanna ruffled her hair, "Do not worry about it, Saku - tan. I am just glad I can comfort you even though you are from a different dimension."
Naruto pressed his face on Tanna's back, "Nee - chan, I will find out what happened to you in our world too. I would like to visit you if possible."
Tanna smiled, "I would like the visit."
Anko sighed, "I suppose since Tanna - koi does not exist, I am single, hm?"
Sakura nodded, "Afraid so! Your reputation is terrifying, Anko - san."
Tsunade returned, "Alright, I have decided, you will be staying with Tanna - san here till we figure out a way to return you home and get my apprentices back."
Naruto, "Apprentices?"
Tsunade, "Brat! Your counterpart asked me to guide him to become a Hokage so yes, he is my apprentice too. Sakura is an Iryo - nin, so that should be self explanatory."
Sakura's eyes glinted, "That makes so much sense. Naruto ~"
Naruto turned to her feeling wary, "Uh... Yes, Sakura - chan?"
Sakura, "After we return, we are going to request Tsunade - Shishou to train you on becoming a Hokage, alright? You want to be a Hokage right? So, it is only right you receive training from one, yeah."
Naruto gulped at the smile, "Sure Sakura - chan, anything you say."
Tanna burst out laughing before leaning over to kiss Sakura's forehead, "Sakura - chan, I am so glad to see there is not much difference between you and our Sakura - chan. You still look out for your friends and try to help them, no matter the dimension."
Sakura flushed pink, "Oh! I mean, we are both Sakuras so, that is logical, right?"
Anko grinned ruffling the pinkette's hair, "No, she is right, kiddo. You both grew up differently so there is a difference between you. Yet a familiarity in how you act, not to forget the possibility that just like Sasuke and his counterpart, you could have been an enemy. Luckily for us, you are not one."
Sakura murmured, "And the fact we never met Tanna - Sensei, yeah I can see what you mean. Is that why we are being kept here to begin with?"
Naruto, "I noticed it too. This place is decked out in seals."
Akari returned, "You are correct there. We kept you here for your safety, mostly. You two are young compared to the Tokubetsu Jounins your counterparts are."
Naruto spluttered, "I am a Jounin???"
Sakura gasped, "Tokubetsu Jounin?"
Tanna looked proud, "Yes, Naruto, my dear outoto is a Master of disguises and seduction. No one can resist his charm, nor can they catch him as his disguises are perfectly created. Some of the ideas even came from your older counterpart, Sakura - chan."
Naruto, "Really?"
Sakura, "Oh!"
Kuroda, "As for my fiance Sakura - chan, she studied nutrition and health and came out with brand new energy pills which are more healthy and safer to consume. She also mastered all the different languages that Tanna - Sensei here introduced to the curriculumn."
Naruto, "Sugoi! That is so awesome, Sakura - chan."
Sakura looked starry eyed, "That is amazing... Okay, this is definitely unfair they got you while we did not, Tanna - Sensei."
Naruto nodded, "And you said he was going for a Mastery on seals. I did not know that existed to begin with. I thought Sealing was a lost art, Ero - Sannin said it was."
Anko chuckled, "Oh! It was till Tanna - chan here literally pointed out how crucial sealing was if you or rather your counterpart died. The Kyuubi would be free to rampage and none would be there to stop it since there would be no Seal Masters left."
Akari cackled evilly saying, "The old fogeys were very much against Sealing becoming a subject till Nara - dono pointed out; if they were willing to sign an agreement to take responsibility if the Kyuubi escaped. It shut them all up pretty quick, when he took out that contract that would make them liable. Remember kids, if people are against any good ideas or plans make them sign contractual agreement of their decision that says they are responsible if something goes wrong."
Both teen's eyes twinkled at that and the group chatted more talking about how Naruto and Sakura never started missions in the Academy and how a lot of Genins drop out only to join Genin corps. That made the adults pause and ask if there were no programs specialized for those kids which got negative answers from the two teens. Tanna narrowed her eyes but then decided to explain what the programs are, from specializing in administrative section of shinobi corps, to seal making, to learning special cooking techniques from Akimichi clan, to joining the Konoha Police Force, to learning etiquette and entertainment techniques that were the same level as a Geisha. That got wide eyes from both teens and they both confirmed there was no such programs for the kids, if there were she would not have been so nervous about Kakashi's tests.
Anko slammed her glass on the table, "Okay! I heard your words and I am sorry to say but it seems someone cut down the classes to make Konoha weaker intentionally."
Tanna frowned, "I have to agree with Anko - chan here. I wonder if our Naruto and Sakura are investigating it out there or are being held back."
Sakura scowled, "I hope so, we have a lot to do once we return."
Naruto nodded, "A class on reading and writing would have helped me and other orphans a lot too and the caligraphy class sounds like fun too."
Nara Shikaku walked in, "Well, if you are done eating, you should go home. Sleep on what happened and then get together tomorrow to make a plan."
Om the other side of the dimension rift, things were just as tense as the shinobi questioned the older Naruto and Sakura. To say the two were not impressed by what they saw was an understatement though they were able to prove who they were by mentioning the secret Hatake password to Kakashi. To say, Kakashi was surprised they knew it was hilarious but it made them wonder about the relationship between their Sensei's counterpart and their younger counterparts in that world. Not to forget the mess of a team they had, why was Sai their teammate? Where was his brother? They are always so close. What happened? They decided to observe things first and since Kakashi - Sensei was given custody over them they decided to go with the man first. Sakura being the little match maker bluntly asked Kakashi how his and Iruka's courting was going. The man actually stumbled as he stared at the two only to grab them and drag them home.
Kakashi, "What do you mean I am courting Iruka?"
Naruto "You were in our dimension. Is that not the case here?"
Sakura looked at the man and Sai who followed them, "Unless you have someone else here?"
Kakashi, "I am single."
Naruto frowned, "That is lonely, Sensei. You should consider courting properly."
Sakura nodded, "Agreed!"
Sai, "So, does this mean Sasuke is home?"
Sakura looked puzzled, "Sasuke is the next Head of the Police Force, Sai -kun."
Kakashi, "Oh!"
Naruto, "We plan to get married once I get my Mastery and he becomes the Head."
Kakashi, "You are getting married? To who?"
Sakura scoffed, "What do you mean to who? Sasuke and Naruto are getting married to each other. It was an engagement, the late Uzumaki Kushina and Uchiha Mikoto agreed on."
The man coughed, "Well, that is new. I did not know there was such an agreement."
Naruto looked at the pinkette, "We really are in an alternate direction, huh? Let's go meet the Uchihas if you do not believe me. They have records."
Sakura nodded, "Agreed! Everyone knows Mikoto - dono has been trying to become family with the late Lady Kushina for a long time. I have no doubt, she would have a record of the engagement."
Kakashi, "Wait! Wait!"
Naruto, "What's wrong, Sensei?"
Kakashi, "The Uchiha are alive in your dimension."
Sakura felt dread, "Yes, they are. In fact, we should meet up with Tanna - Sensei too. I am sure she will be delighted to see an older you as a Tokubetsu Jounin, Naruto - kun."
Naruto grinned, "Right, you are!"
Sai, "Naruto - kun, Sakura - san, there is no one called Tanna in this village."
Naruto, "What?"
Sakura looked stern, "Then... Who raised Naruto? It was Tanna - san who took care of Naruto and raised him. Who raised Naruto here?"
Kakashi sat down motioning others to sit as well, "How about we compare notes first?"
Naruto was not amused after the comparisons were over, "Why is the Academy so backwards?"
The man choked, "Backwards?"
Kakashi eye smiled, "Yes, it is apparently backwards Yamato. Could you explain how?"
Sakura, "Where is the cooking specialist classes? Or the poison classes? Why are they not being taken on E - rank mission so they know how to behave during missions? Where are the different reading, writing and caligraphy classes? Why is there no class for basic sealing? But the most important of all, where are the language classes? The Klingon class? The English class? What happened to those?"
Yamato, "That's a lot of classes."
Naruto, "Those are the primary classes that she mentioned. The fact they don't exist means the specializations and tutoring programs are missing too."
Sakura, "Show me a map of the village."
Sai, "Huh?"
Sakura, "Now!"
Sai drew out a detailed map, "Here you go, fake - Sakura."
Sakura raised an unimpressed eyebrow before looking, "As I suspected, this village is smaller than ours. Look here Naruto, the village has not gone past the original perimeter from the Shodaime's time."
Naruto nodded, "Yeah, back home, the Uchihas, Hyuugas, Naras and every large clan basically expanded outside Konoha to house orphans and cultivate the land more... Why is the Uchiha compound so tiny, Sai?"
Sai, "They cut down the size after the clan was massacred."
Naruto froze, "What did you just say?"
Sakura turned to him furious, "The fuck you mean massacred?"
Kakashi shared a look with Yamato and decided they needed a more thorough comparison before presenting it to the Hokage. But first, they needed to bring the two Tokubetsu Jounin back from their angry burst. However, Kakashi could not help but wonder why things were so different and what happened that changed things. Yamato and Sai though headed to the Hokage tower to tell the Hokage about what happened only to get an intrigued look from the blond woman and a curious look from the team who just came in. Ino being curious as ever wanted to find Sakura and question her, it sounded like she got involved in another crazy situation again. However, before she could say anything Kakashi appeared with the two people in tow and Ino had to do a double take at what she was looking at. Naruto and Sakura looked older and she did not know Naruto would look this good with his hair long and since when did Sakura start using fancy looking braids on her hair. Actually, when did they grow so tall and why was she not told about it, this is her childhood friend for crying out loud.
Tsunade, "Uzumaki - san and Haruno - san, Yamato - Sensei has told me about what happened."
Sakura gave a clipped answer, "Then you should know why we are really pissed and disappointed right now, Hokage - sama."
Shikamaru blinked, "Troublesome!"
Ino winced at the cold tone, "Hey forehead, why the cold tone?"
Chouji twitched, "You changed."
Naruto looked serious, "Please understand, everything that could have gone wrong really went wrong in this dimension. One of the founding clans massacred, Academy is backwards as fuck, please excuse the language but your classes or lack of thereof is a joke."
Sakura, "Not to forget the lack of land devlopment and growth. Our Konoha is a town, it started becoming a town the moment we passed out as Genin. And the security, it sucks, did you know?"
Tsunade listened with a blank face, "I see! So you are claiming your Konoha is more advanced?"
Naruto laughed, "More advanced? Absolutely not! We have not even got our touch phones yet but Konoha is definitely more secure. I spied an Akatsuki member, provided they are our enemies here too inside the village."
Tsunade stood up, "What? Are you sure?"
Sakura blinked then sighed, "Like I said poor security."
Naruto looked at Sakura, "This is like Tanna - nee's nightmare coming true, isn't it?"
Sakura grimaced, "Yes, to make it worse there is no record of Tanna - Sensei coming to the village either. She was the point of change, wasn't she?"
Naruto, "Well, she did adopt me after I was thrown out of the orphanage."
Kakashi, "What?"
Naruto explained how he met Tanna, "So that was what happened to me but it sounds like she never made it to Konoha here."
Sakura looked thoughtful, "Tanna - Sensei, Mikoto - donno and other clan ladies are very close to each other and Lady Shijimi as well."
Ino, "You are not my Sakura - chan, are you Haruno - san?"
Sakura chuckled, "You could always find me among my clones. I am glad to see you are still as sharp here."
Naruto walked forward, "So this is what Ino - Shika - Cho looked like as teens. How cute!"
Sakura grinned, "I kinda miss seeing Ino - tan at this age. If one good thing came out of this is meeting her."
Naruto, "Here Hokage - sama."
Tsunade looked tense, "What is this?"
Naruto, "Something to help my counterpart bring Sasuke back. Sorry to say, but Sasuke - kun will not return to a place where his family does not exist."
Sakura nodded, "Give it to Naruto - chan. It is the only chance he has to bring that stubborn brat back."
Ino spluttered, "Did you just call Sasuke - kun a brat?"
Shikamaru, "Troublesome."