Hello lovely readers! I'm back with the sequel to Sakura's New Past! That's right! For all you new readers, this is a SEQUEL, so if you start here this won't make much sense to you!
I just want to start off by saying that updates will be SLOW, considering I had wanted to finish editing all of Sakura's New Past before continuing on with the sequel, and since I failed to do that, I'll be working on both at the same time. I'll try to do 2-3 revisions on previous chapters in between updates on this fic, just to try and balance out my work.
I know a lot of you guys wished for Sakura to remain in the past, but the problem with that is that if she did, there would be two Sakura's in one timeline, and none in the other. And given the circumstances of the Haruno Clan and Orochimaru dead set on finding out the heir, it made trouble that I didn't want to deal with, plus, I already had such a great plan for the plot were Sakura to return to the future. Plus, calculating the poll results plus individual pms of opinions, it had been just about even, given that the "don't care, your choice" votes were added to the going back to the present, for that one is the one I would have preferred to go with.
But, regardless of that, I'm sure you guys are going to enjoy what I have in store for you ^_^ You will not be disappointed readers!
Now without further ado, I give you guys the sequel.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its character in any shape, or form
Chapter 1 (Prologue): Since then
Breathe with me Mikoto, we'll make it through
Don't worry, I'm here with you. Deep labored breaths Mikoto, we're almost there.
One more push Mikoto, keep fighting.
Congratulations, it's a healthy baby girl.
Her name?
….Saki… Saki Uchiha
Wait, what's up with her-
Itachi had not seen Konoha in such high spirits in what could have been ages. Of course, why wouldn't it be lively? The sole female survivor of the Uchiha Massacre had just given birth to a healthy baby girl, he had heard.
Getting into the village just to catch a glimpse of his precious younger sister had not been an easy feat –not as easy as it usually had been, anyway. Itachi noted, with growing recognition and acceptance, that they had upped security greatly, if not to be wary of Itachi sneaking in to "finish what he started", than in fear that neighboring countries would have their eyes set on Mikoto or the child.
At least this way, Itachi could be sure that his family was safe.
And not just them, too…
-Sakura.
Just the thought of her name sent his blood pulsing a little harder. He hadn't seen her in months –since they day after the massacre, to be exact. He hadn't dared come back after their confrontation –after she had explicitly told him to leave… to get out, and to shred all attachments he had once had to her. As she had stated, he was no longer an ally to her. But this, he could not help. He'd give up all ties to her if it meant having her free from Madara's grasps. He'd even be willing to kill her again if need be… It only ever sucked that he never got to explain himself to her, not that he would ever get that chance anyway. Things, as screwed up as they were, were best this way.
This way, he guaranteed himself, his feet taking him to a place he knew to be the Haruno Compound, neither of them would get hurt again, and Itachi would be able to focus on the crucial side of things. Plus, he reasoned, at least this way, Sakura had a real shot at a bright future with a true love, someone who deserved her much more than he ever would.
Focusing back on the scene before him, he became much more alert and attentive once entering the Haruno Compound, and finding himself located in a building across from the Haruno main household –where his mother and brother and sister –and Sakura, currently resided.
He could distinctly see two figures in what seemed to be the kitchen, one he easily identified as his mother, and the other as Sasuke.
From the window, he could see his mother washing the dishes, before she looked up, attentively almost, and made direct contact with Itachi's own gaze.
She did not seem to exude any form of fear or anger, which greatly relieved him even though he did not show it, and he watched as Mikoto hurriedly sent Sasuke off to bed. She waited about fifteen or so minutes, until she herself retreated from the kitchen, and made her appearance several minutes later on the second floor of the compound, standing outside in the balcony where Itachi quickly appeared.
"My boy…" Mikoto was quick to whisper to herself, rushing to his arms as she enveloped Itachi in a hug that temporarily left him as vulnerable as the day Shisui died. The day he killed Shisui. He easily welcomed the hug, returning it with less fervor but still with much need and care.
"Okaa-san" Itachi greeted calmly, though on the inside he could think only one thought –he was glad Sakura had prevented him from killing his mother.
"You are well?" she question him after their long hug was over.
"Hn" he confirmed, releasing her from their embrace to see her. She seemed to have grown several years in the span of the ten or so months he had not seen her. She must have been exhausted every day, no doubt, worrying over Sasuke and over her unborn child, and no doubt the massacre still took its toll on her today –how would it not, when he was sure wherever she went she would certainly get pitiful looks of 'That poor thing, no husband to care for that unborn child of hers' or 'She had it all, I wonder how she'd dealing with it'.
Nevertheless, his mother was a strong woman, and regardless of the toll all this had taken on her body, she was still as strong and beautiful as ever in his eyes.
"I bet you wish to see her." Mikoto smiled knowingly, turning around momentarily and entering her room. A minute passed before she emerged once more, a quiet, sleeping baby with soft black tufts of hair growing wildly and messily on her head. "She's a pain to put to bed, I tell you." Mikoto whispered softly, cradling her between her arms as she approached Itachi.
Itachi looked down in what could almost be awe, as he took in the sight before him. Pale and soft porcelain skin, smooth and white as the moon. He reached out to grab her hand in his, only to see that her hands instinctively wrapped around his own, bigger index finger.
Just then she opened her eyes, making a small cooing sound, staring up at Itachi with sleepy but curious eyes. Itachi's eyes snapped towards Mikoto, almost as if wondering if he had done something wrong.
"She likes meeting new people." Mikoto brushed his worry aside with a smile. "Say hello to your onii-chan, Saki-chan." Mikoto smiled endearingly as she pushed the baby onto Itachi's own hands, which he took rather nervously. He had been seven, if that, when he had held baby Sasuke in his arms –and it had been one of the happiest moments of his life.
Now was no different, he decided, even if the situation was rather… odd. "Saki…" he repeated, almost as if questioning.
Mikoto nodded, confirming his thoughts. "It was Sakura who made all this possible… To her we owe everything. She is the godmother."
And Itachi couldn't be more in agreement, he decided, looking back down at his baby sister. They stared at each other, her calm and deep black meeting his intense, blood red Sharingan gaze… She blinked, once, twice, her eyebrows furled in what could be concentration, and then without any warning, her eyes suddenly lit a bright blood red, not unlike his own. But then, they developed into something all on their own, akin to his eyes but different in complexity.
At the sight of this, Mikoto hurriedly closed Saki's eyes with her hands, and Itachi could feel her pump a pulse of chakra into her eyes.
Frankly, Itachi could say he was more than a little astonished, looking up to Mikoto for an explanation.
"We weren't entirely sure…" Mikoto began… "All we know is that, shortly after delivery, her eyes turned red and she acquired the Mangekyou Sharingan…" Mikoto was quiet for a moment, watching as Saki reopened her eyes, her pupils back to a nice black color. "Sakura theorized that the traumatic experiences and emotions that I felt during the… that day," Mikoto changed her word choice, "was enough to somehow trigger the Sharingan in Saki. Since she was in my uterus and was still connected to me, my emotions somehow triggered Saki's own sadness and it was enough for her to develop her eyes, somehow…" Mikoto explained.
It sort of made sense to Itachi, and he bitterly acknowledged that for the Mangekyou to fully awaken, Mikoto had to, in part, feel responsible for the death of a loved one or a best friend. Perhaps this small guilt was enough to trigger a catalyst that, even if not enough to awaken her own, was enough to trigger a sadness so great for a yet unborn child that its eyes developed on their own without the knowledge of the wielder, in this case Saki.
"Because Saki's chakra reserves are so small right now, she can usually only keep her eyes activated for a few seconds at a time, tops a minute, but it becomes rather dangerous for her to show them in public, which is why she usually stays within the confines of the Haruno Compound until she is at the age in which she can learn to control it. Sakura said that Kakashi Hatake-san would be a great teacher for both Sasuke-kun and Saki-chan in the future. She also taught me a way to forcefully have her deactivate the Sharingan if it wasn't deactivating on its own" Mikoto explained.
Once more, Itachi could not help but acknowledge how well Sakura had planned this entire ordeal –from the massacre, up until Mikoto's labor and even down to the upbringing of her child. No wonder she was the godmother.
"And… Sakura…?" Itachi questioned, almost hesitantly as his gaze met his mothers. At the mention of her name, Mikoto's eyebrows furled and concern filled her features.
"I don't really know how to tell you this Itachi, but… she's gone…"
"Mikoto, I'm going to have to leave soon…"
Sakura was standing before Mikoto as she held on to her newborn child, still in the hospital bed. Her child was just downright perfect, as healthy as can be, although she was a bit small.
"I know… It's only a matter of time." Mikoto looked up momentarily to smile at Sakura. "I want you to be the godmother." She changed the subject.
"Mikoto, I can't possibly-" Mikoto cut her off.
"Sakura, all of this has only been possible because of you. I trust no one more than I trust you to ensure the future safety of my children. I know that putting my trust in you leaves my children in good hands." Mikoto explained.
Sakura did not speak for a while. "I cannot protect her once I leave… it'll be eleven years down the road before I regain my memories and my present time is resumed."
"Then I will wait those eleven years for your return. You have not left me defenseless, Sakura." Mikoto smiled warmly.
"That's right, Sakura-chan!" Sakura snapped her gaze to the right, where she could clearly see Himawari and Marika sitting down on nearby chairs. "You have nothing to fear with Marika-chan and Hiroto-niisan here to protect Mikoto and Saki-chan!" Himawari explained with genuine excitement.
Sakura smiled slightly, but her displeasure was still seen. "I wish I didn't have to drag you guys into this and force you to do my bidding." Her smile soon turned into a frown.
"Sakura," Marika shook her head in denial, "you are our heir. We live to serve and follow you without any doubt. We put our faith in you blindly because we know that you have our best interests at heart. You have reunited us with Konoha, and with this, bit by bit, not only will the Haruno Clan, but the Uchiha clan as well, will return to their former glory." Marika smiled.
Sakura felt relieved at Marika's comforting words, as she turned her gaze back on Mikoto, who was smiling back at Sakura.
"And just as they have put their faith in you, I have done the same Sakura." Mikoto summed up.
"I won't let you down, Mikoto"
"Before I leave, there is something I must warn you about." Sakura explained, sitting alone in a dark room with Mikoto.
"There will come a time, maybe not soon, but definitely within the year, that Itachi will come. Remember, he is not your enemy Mikoto… I plead that you keep an open mind." Sakura tried smiling tentatively.
"Nor is he your enemy, Sakura," Mikoto rest her hand upon Sakura's in an attempt to comfort her.
"Mikoto, he tried to kill me… whatever the reason is, I simply cannot turn my back on that…" Sakura frowned. "If… if he comes, and if he asks of me, tell him nothing of me. Tell him I am gone, and it is as simple as that. It is better he think me dead, rather that attempt to kill me again, or worse."
"But surely he must have had a reason-"
"Please Mikoto… as of now, it is best he not know of my true identity… Kami forgive what may happen if he finds out I essentially came from the future to trick him." Sakura frowned.
Mikoto did not respond for several seconds, but gave her response seconds afterwards anyway. "You have my word." She confirmed.
Because even if she didn't completely agree, she could not deny Sakura of this wish.
She was gone. Mikoto could say no more than that –she didn't need to, frankly. Itachi understood what she meant, at least in the pretext that Sakura had wished it for.
He pressed no further –he had no reason to. It's not like he had lost her or anything –she had already been lost before. Hell, it wasn't like he had her to begin with, he tried to convince himself bitterly.
"I should go." He merely stated in the darkness, handing Mikoto back the child.
"Will I see you again?" Mikoto questioned him as he turned around, unable to see the hurt in his eyes.
"It's best we don't."
There was an empty silence as Mikoto seized up the situation. After this, no longer would she see her boy. After this, he would once again be an enemy of the Leaf, and an enemy to her, at least until the time that Sakura returns to her time. "…I'm very proud of you, Itachi-kun… You've been so brave." She offered her comfort, which Itachi took in with silence.
"Hn."
And then he was gone.
Mikoto knew that it would be a very long time before she saw her son again, but she didn't know that his entire childhood, or what was left of it, would be gone in a flash, and that the next time she saw him, he would be a full-fledged adult, no longer her young and cute Itachi-kun.
"Marika-neesan… I have a task for you." Sakura began.
"Anything Sakura-chan."
"It's about Shisui Uchiha…"
"Shisui…" A small blush grazed her features, recalling her one and only interaction with the elder Uchiha. "Yes, I remember him, but what does he have to do with anything?" she questioned, suppressing her blush.
"Well…"
"Squad 13, Saki Uchiha, Tobito Inuzuka, Seiji Hyuga."
Saki stood and walked towards the front of the classroom, where she met her new teammates, now officially branded –proudly, might I add, with a Genin headband. She was two years younger than all of her classmates, having excelled to the point that she was able to graduate early (of course, this was thanks to her Sharingan, but even then her skill shown behind it all).
Her teammate, Seiji Hyuuga as she recalled, gave her a small nod of acknowledgement while the Inuzuka gave her a sloppy grin. "I just knew we were going to be on the same team Saki!" Tobito exclaimed loudly.
"You can thank the fact that you're at the bottom of the class." The Hyuga snorted quietly.
"What'd you say?!" Tobito growled.
Saki, attempting to defuse the situation, ignored both their antics. "Do you guys know who our sensei is?"
"No idea!" Tobito replied quickly, putting his attention back on Saki.
"I heard they were still debating on it. They really wanted Hatake Kakashi, part of Team 7." The Hyuga began.
"Sasuke-nii's team." Saki nodded in confirmation.
"Yes, but he refuses to leave his team yet, despite the fact that they are all about to turn eighteen now and technically don't need a sensei." Seiji continued.
"Such a shame. Seeing the Sharingan in action would have been super cool, nee, Saki-chan?" Tobito nudged Saki lightly.
"…Hn" Saki ignored Tobito. She had truly expected Kakashi to become their new sensei, had even hoped for it, believing that with him by her side she could master the Sharingan quicker. But if he wasn't their sensei, then who could possibly-
"Sorry I'm late kiddos!" The door to the classroom suddenly swung open. All eyes turned towards the door as they examined their new sensei. He was relatively young, compared to all the other sensei, with jet black hair and ridiculous hot pink eyes.
"Hiroto-senpai?!" Saki's eyes widened slightly as she looked him up and down, confirming that it was in fact Hiroto Haruno, the man who had baby sat her and taken care of her since as long as she could remember. Hell, he had taught her, alongside Sasuke, how to catch and throw kunai, and what the basic ninja techniques were (this had been a prime reason, alongside her naturally honed abilities and skills, that she was able to skip two grades in the academy and graduate early).
"It's Hiroto-sensei now Saki." He winked as he approached them, placing a soft hand on her head as he ruffled her straight black locks.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner that you would be my sensei?" she questioned.
Hiroto let out a leisurely shrug as he stuffed his hands in his pockets. "It hadn't been decided until just a few hours ago, to be truthful."
Before Saki could continue their conversation, Seiji Hyuga scoffed, as if unused to such insolence –for Kami's sake, he was from the main branch of the highly-esteemed Hyuga Clan, and their sensei hadn't even given him –or the Inuzuka for that matter- a second thought.
"Ahh, yes," Hiroto looked from Saki to the two slightly older males. "Seiji Hyuga and Tobito Inuzuka, correct?" he pointed at each of them respectively.
At the mention of their names, they each gave a curt nod.
Hiroto examined them for several seconds, the Hyuga returning his gaze level-headedly while the Inuzuka tried his best to not squirm under his gaze. Until just a few seconds ago, the Inuzuka was casually leaning on one of the desks, almost as if bored, whereas the Hyuga was looking at him with a small twitch in his eyes, almost as if annoyed and thinking 'And I need to be seen around this dog-breathed idiot'. Hiroto cracked a grin. "Welcome to Squad 13." This wouldn't be all that bad, he decided. Hell, it would sure beat having watch duty at the post three times a week.
Marika looked around. This looked like the right place, she supposed. Unfortunately, she couldn't exactly ask for directions, for that would bring on unwanted attention and she didn't want to scare off the poor guy, if what Sakura had told her was true.
'Alright Marika, she said it's a dark green little thing with a tiny flower pot by the window sill, you can do this.'
Surprisingly, it had been easier to find said little cottage than she had expected. Then again, the village wasn't exactly the biggest, and there had only been a handful of dark green houses. She found the flower pot, and with very little effort, fished out a key from somewhere within the soil.
"You will enter the home, don't worry, only Shisui and I know where the key is located, and you will greet him and explain to him what has occurred, and what I tell you now."
And so she wiggled they key into the key hole, satisfied when a little 'click' unlocked the door and she entered it warily. "H-Hello?" she peered through the door, entering hesitantly. She couldn't hear anyone inside, and it felt like she was breaking in. "S-Sorry for intruding! I come under Sakura's orders…!"
But she soon found the cottage to be completely empty.
Was this normal?
Marika supposed she would wait a while before deeming this hopeless –where else would Shisui be anyhow? He was probably out grocery shopping or something; that had to be it. So she found what was meant to be the living room of the area, identifiable only by the low square table centered around the room, and two small cushions placed across from each other. Naturally, she sat herself on one of them and waited patiently, noticing how he hadn't even bothered completing the set and getting four cushions instead of two. This meant he never planned on having visitors, and this place… this hideout of sorts was strictly meant for meeting with Sakura and nothing else. Putting this thought in the back of her head, she gave a small sigh as she looked around the room, bored, waiting for Shisui to return.
Which, apparently didn't have to be very long, because right around the fifth minute of waiting, she suddenly found her back against the bamboo floor boards, a man hovering above her, and a kunai pressed to her throat.
Irritatingly, Marika couldn't help but think that Sakura had not warned her that Shisui would be a paranoid arse. But that thought was tucked to the deepest and furthest recesses of her mind as she began to panic, Shisui pinching the kunai close enough to her neck to draw blood.
"Who are you?" he spat venom, whispering quietly in her ear, his lips so close she could feel them on her ear. Heat quickly rose to her cheeks and the next second, with or without her willing them to, small jasmine buds sprouted from alongside her and forced Shisui off of her, momentarily catching him off guard because -holy crap there were flowers growing out of his house and he hadn't even sensed her activate a jutsu, enough for her to get a distance away from him. Momentarily paralyzed by the jasmine buds that rendered him motionless, he watched in what could almost be confusion as Marika promptly sat down and bowed to him.
"S-Sorry for entering when you weren't even here!" Shisui blinked, once, twice. "Sakura told me it'd be okay and that you'd remember me, so it wouldn't be a problem." She looked back up to him, noticing that at the mention of Sakura, all tense muscles and looks of uneasiness went away.
"Sakura sent you?" By this point, deeming him no longer a hazard to her life, Marika released the jasmine buds that were holding him captive.
"H-Hai." Marika nodded. "I'm her older sister. We met before… once, in the compound, before your supposed death…" she commented a little quietly, her cheeks growing a faint pink. How could he not remember her when he had said such… crude things to her?
And so Shisui sat across the table from her, an elbow propped up on the table as he rested his chin on his hand, looking at her with a scrutinizing gaze. "Oh that's right!" he snapped his fingers in revelation. "You were the one wearing that cute little night gown!"
Marika quickly blushed and looked down in embarrassment. So he did remember, that pervert!
Shisui grinned a typical grin that was so characteristic of him a year or two ago, it almost surprised him how easily she had been able to bring out such a reaction from him when he hadn't dared have fun in such a long time.
"Well Marika-chan, welcome to my humble abode, what can I do for you?"
"Orochimaru-sama, I have received word that the Haruno bunch no longer reside amongst the waterfall. They have taken refuge in Konoha once more."
Orochimaru frowned distastefully. As soon as he decided that he wanted to experiment with them, they decide to go where he could not reach them. Just great. That Haruno… whoever she had been, heir or not, had finely refined skills –skills he wanted. And meeting her –battling with her, had given him such a thrill and such a thirst for knowledge that he knew, children or not, one of them among the bunch had to be worth something. He needed to find the heir… she would be the answer to all his problems.
"What else?" he spoke after his long thought.
"It has been confirmed, the only survivors to the Uchiha Massacre are Sasuke Uchiha and Mikoto Uchiha. Word has it that the only reason that Mikoto survived was because of that Haruno's intervention." Kabuto spoke her name with such venom it could have almost been amusing how jealous he was.
"Interesting." He nodded, noting that she must have had a confrontation with Itachi Uchiha –and she had survived, which was something worth noticing in the long run.
"And I am also under suspicions that Mikoto may be with child."
"Oh?" Orochimaru spoke, finally intrigued with the conversation.
"I was too far to be able to confirm, and she has been hiding it very well, but it seems to me that she is a few months in."
"And what makes you say that?" Orochimaru questioned. He didn't know much about pregnancy, but he knew that women didn't start showing until later on.
"She's been acting rather peculiar from what I could tell." Kabuto merely explained. "My theory will be confirmed in a few months, I suppose. She can't hide it forever." Orochimaru nodded in agreement. "I believe that if you seek the Sharingan eyes, that perhaps the best opportunity would be to-"
"The Sharingan is no longer of interest to me." Orochimaru silenced him. "I want that heir to Haruno Clan, and I want her Flower Eye."
"Did you hear?! There are a group of Harunos' approaching the village!"
"What? No way! I thought they were all wiped out."
"Apparently they were hiding, in fear of threats to the Village."
"They're being escorted back now by Hatake Kakashi, so I've heard."
Sakura hesitantly but quickly walked, her little feet carrying her as fast as they could, her heart thumping in her little body. No. It couldn't be. She had watched them all perish; watched them all die right in front of her, every last one of them. It wouldn't be fair to get her hopes up; not now, when she was slowly starting to come to terms with reality. When she was beginning to think she could move on. Her heart would break, she was sure, if this had somehow just been a sham. But everyone was saying it; hell, even the Hokage had confirmed it, right in front of her. There was no way this couldn't be real.
"Whoa there my child, we're all eager to see them, slow down. This old man can't keep up with you little ones anymore."
Sakura turned around with a pout. "Hurry up ji-chan! They'll be hear any minute now!"
And even though all the villagers and shinobi alike had carved a straight path for the Hokage, being pulled by the hand by Sakura, he walked with much patience and ease up to the front gates. Upon his arrival, just around the horizon, six black figures could clearly be seen walking towards the gates, and the tension in the air was enough for Sakura to hide herself behind the Hokage's cloak.
This was the moment of truth.
Closer and closer they came, but Sakura still had her eyes shut, hiding behind the Hokage, gripping his cloak in fear that she wouldn't recognize a single one of the people that would soon be entering the village.
"For someone who was so excited, you seem to not want to watch their approach." The Hokage smiled warmly, all too aware of the emotions she was probably feeling.
"What if they don't recognize me or they don't want to be a family again?"
The Hokage chuckled, knowing that Sakura had absolutely nothing to worry about.
"Here they come! Look, I can see Kakashi Hatake's figure from here!" A random villager called out.
And soon enough they were upon the entrance, the Hokage standing proudly and humbly. "The village of Konoha welcomes you all most humbly, Haruno-san."
"We are thankful to be welcomed with such open arms, Hokage-sama."
Sakura's eyes snapped wide open. She recognized that voice -she knew it well, in fact. She didn't even need confirmation, suddenly brave enough to peer past the Hokage's cloak and stare at the six people before her. There was Kakashi, the ninja that escorted them there, and then...
And then was Hiroto, and Marika and Himawari, and happiness flooded her soul.
She hurriedly ran past the Hokage, a flurry of emotions running through her body. "Hiroto-nii! Marika-neechan! Himawari-chan!" She couldn't stop the tears that were flowing from her eyes, nor did she think she even wanted to. She hadn't been this happy since... well, she couldn't quite remember the last time she felt so elated, but she knew that the feeling she felt now would be incomparable to anything she would ever experience for the rest of her life.
She had family.
And she didn't care that people were staring at her, or that they were murmuring things like "Who is she?" or "Is she another Haruno?", because she was being enveloped by a warm hug, a hug from Hiroto, and a hug from her family.
"Sakura-chan." Hiroto smiled warmly at her, kneeling down to welcome her hug.
It could have been seconds, it could have been hours, he wasn't entirely sure. But after some time, Sakura looked up at him, tears still in her eyes, but her smile as warm and bright as ever. "Welcome home."
Sakura didn't know what it was that she should expect. Would she even be able to go back to her own timeline? She didn't know, but she had to try. As much as she had grown to love Mikoto and little Sasuke and even Saki, her goddaughter, she simply did not belong in this timeline. She wanted her friends. She wanted Ino, and she wanted Naruto, and hell, she wanted Tsunade and she even missed stupid Neji and his one-syllabled responses.
Sakura once again found herself in an all-white expanse, one which she had grown familiar with since her experiences with time-travel. "Matsuro-sama." She declared loudly, calling out to her God.
Sakura was not disappointed, as a few seconds later, Matsuro emerged, seemingly out of nowhere. "Sakura." She greeted with a small smile.
"It's time that I go back." Sakura began. "I have done all I can here, and I must see what I have been able to change with my efforts."
"Yes." Matsuro agreed. "And I can make this happen, but there is a bit of a complication…"
Sakura raised an eyebrow curiously. "Complication?" she questioned.
"Nothing too serious. The problem is, I cannot just throw you back to your present time. It is easy to bring someone back, not so much to bring them forward, especially not after things have changed drastically." Matsuro explained.
Sakura nodded. "So what happens now?" she questioned.
"You will remain here, part of a different dimension all together. Time does not flow here, so you will not age, but you must wait as the past catches up to your present. Unfortunately, it will take a while… Not as long as you'd expect, but it will take time."
"That's fine." Sakura nodded. This was not a big sacrifice at all. Sure, boredom was bound to ensue, but at least she had time to unravel her thoughts and see how the world she had lived in would now be changed because of her. "I'm ready to start whenever you are, Matsuro-sama." Sakura nodded.
"Very well… you'll feel a bit dizzy, for I must absorb some of your chakra for this." With a nod of confirmation, Sakura braced herself as she began feeling her chakra slowly being sapped from her body.
Only time would tell what she had accomplished in the past.
End of Chapter (Prologue)
So the point of this chapter was to show you guys little snippets of what Sakura had changed due to her staying in the past, as well as some things that are crucial to know for the plot development later on. Note that this chapter will not contain all of the flashbacks –they will be brought up from chapter to chapter, depending on whether I deem them necessary to contribute to the development of the plot, or of its characters. But overall, I will try to not make so many flashbacks, for they tend to kind of throw off the flow of the story/chapter.
Questions? Concerns? Comments? Critiques?
Leave em all here! Any and all reviews are much appreciated!
P.S. I know this chapter was significantly shorter than what my average chapter was, but do not fear, this was done so because it is a PROLOGUE, and the chapters from here on out will be averaging 8-10 thousand words.
That is all!
-MarzSpy