"Are you ready to do this Sakura, Yamato" Tsunade questioned holding up her hands, all of them had crowded in her office, the place the jutsu was to be used, the now seven year old pinkette and brunette raised their heads and nodded together resolutely.
Sasuke bit his cheek harshly and tasted blood, but he ignored it as Tsunade flew through a set of hand signs, they could all feel the sense of urgency in the air as Black Zetsu made his attack on the Leaf Village in order to get to him and Naruto.
Naruto clenched his eyes shut as the window of the Hokage's office shattered showering pieces of glass everywhere and onto them, his eyes opened a moment later just as Tsunade finished her hand signs, "Ninja Art: Reverse Time Travel Jutsu" she called and a swirling blue portal opened.
Kakashi jumped forward hand already filled with chakra from his favorite jutsu chidori, slamming it into one of the white Zetsu clones that had been created "Keep going, I'll keep them occupied" he shouted kicking a few of the white clones out the window to the street below.
Off in the distance screams of fear sounded as a building exploded, they knew instantly it was the hospital, they'd get no medical help, Tsunade hurriedly placed her hands on Sakura and Yamato's tiny shoulders that already had their packs strapped across their shoulders.
"Remember Sakura, Yamato, only you two can save us now" she smiled honey brown eyes showing how proud she was of her apprentice and tears filled Sakura's emerald eyes as she turned and buried her face in her stomach.
Muffled sniffles filled the air as time slowed down "I promise Tsunade-shishou that you'll get the happiness you deserve, Yamato-taichou and I that is" Sakura lifted her head tears streaming down her cheeks as the brunette gave her a kind smile.
Before his onyx eyes locked with those of the ones he'd served to protect "We will succeed Lady Tsunade, Black Zetsu will fall" Yamato vowed grasping Sakura's hand and squeezing it tightly, just as Sasuke's body went flying towards them.
He coughed out blood, probably from the force of the blow "Sakura, I know I've been a jerk, and this is probably the last thing you want to hear from me, but I always liked you" Sasuke smiled blood trickling down his chin.
Then he was up on his feet again pulling his sword from it's sheath and hacking through several White Zetsu Clones, as Tsunade turned towards the blue portal and created some more hand signs placing hand made seals all around the outside of it to take two of her precious people back in time.
"Sakura-chan" Naruto's obnoxious voice shouted over the loud noises in the office as another explosion shook the ground and the building they were in "Don't Be Afraid To Fall In Love" he shouted blue eyes narrowed in determination as he shoved a Rasengan into a White Zetsu Clone.
"Yeah Ugly, Yamato-taichou, we are counting on you to make things right for us" Sai's voice cut through the air drawing ink art rapidly and using his signature jutsu to help out his team, only those from Team Seven and Team Kakashi were there in the office.
Her eyes burned and only Yamato holding her hand tightly prevented her from turning around and throwing herself in front of the teenager who took a kunai to the back, Kakashi was already gone, having been impaled on a piece of glass.
And then suddenly hands were on their shoulders and they were being shoved through the portal, the last thing either Yamato or Sakura saw, was Tsunade getting pierced through the chest with a spear, "Good luck" the blonde choked out and then nothing, her entire world went dark.
Naruto and Sasuke, Sai and Kakashi already gone, the time portal having closed leaving them the only ones left, were the next to go and Kaguya was once again unleashed to wreak havoc on the ninja world, only this time there were no saviors and soon it was completely obliterated.
-Flashback to 1 Year Ago-
She'd been called to Tsunade's office in the middle of the night, Sakura slipped her feet into the open toed sandals and exited her apartment, following the anbu through the darkened streets to the Hokage Tower to the honey eyed blonde's office.
When they entered, Yamato was sat to the side in another chair, and the anbu that had escorted her was immediately dismissed, the office was sealed and sound proofed, Sakura sat down in the chair before her shishou's desk next to Yamato.
"Is something going on Milady" Sakura spoke up softly when Tsunade sat and placed her chin atop her clasped hands, that were turning white from lack of blood flow, her lips were pressed together and her honey eyes were filled with an emotion she couldn't quite pick out.
Tsunade took a deep breath "In a way yes" she pressed her lips together thinning them as she stared at her student and Yamato, who was just as confused as to what was going on "The war may have ended, but the fight is not over" Tsunade began spinning her chair around to stare out over the sleeping village.
Yamato frowned at that "What do you mean Lady Tsunade" his brow creased in a frown and his shoulders tensed "Has something happened" he prodded hoping the blonde would tell them what was going on so that they might be able to go back to bed.
Tsunade swallowed thickly and tears gathered in her honey colored eyes, she couldn't face her student or subordinate as she said the words "It turns out Black Zetsu is alive and already planning his next move, if Naruto and Sasuke die, then Kaguya's seal becomes undone" she explained in an even tone.
Sakura held back the gasp that suddenly lodged it's way into her throat and true fear gripped her heart, Yamato went rigid in the seat next to her "But how, we thought he'd been sealed away" she almost stood but managed to remain seated as she asked her question.
It was a silent for a moment as Yamato glanced between both females in the office, wondering why he'd been pulled into the conversation as well, Tsunade finally turned around after making sure her emotions were under lock and key.
No good would come of her getting overemotional and causing more complications before she could finish explaining to her student and subordinate what needed to be done to prevent this all from happening, they were the only ones she could trust to do the job.
She passed a hand through her blonde hair "No one is quite sure, but a plan is being put in place at this very moment" Tsunade clasped her hands together again and settled them into her lap, her nails digging into her palms and she could feel beads of blood dripping down her arm onto the wood flooring of her office.
Not sure if he was going to like this, and judging by Sakura's expression she didn't like it either "Just what kind of plan is it Lady Tsunade" Yamato inquired his gut telling him to run, run far away and hide but he stayed rooted to his chair.
"Yes, what kind of plan are you suggesting is being put in place Milady" Sakura straightened her spine gripping the chair's arm rests as she whispered though she didn't need to, Tsunade stared at her and Yamato with honey colored eyes and she felt her heart quickening within her chest.
She pressed her hands together all the harder in a white knuckled grip, "It will take a year to fully take effect, and you two, Sakura and Yamato, are the keys, only you two will be able to complete this mission" Tsunade breathing managing to remain level headed for just a moment longer.
A scroll was tossed into their laps and together Sakura and Yamato unrolled them to read it's contents "Why us though" she felt her heart breaking, and a tear trickled down her cheek before she got her emotions under control, Tsunade sent them a sad smile.
Yamato grit his teeth, why couldn't anything be simple "Surely there are more suitable options other than this Lady Tsunade" he locked gazes with the woman, as anger surged through him for the first time in a long time.
Tsunade lowered her head "Because Sakura, first and foremost you are my student, second you have surpassed me in strength and medical prowess, right now you are the best medical ninja in the world" she gave the pinkette her hard earned praise though it was a bitter feeling that was left behind.
She chose to deal with her apprentice first before turning to Yamato, "And because I trust you're judgment Yamato, you won't let bias cloud you eyes, together you and Sakura are the only ones who can undergo this S Ranked Mission" Tsunade stated.
Sakura felt her eyes water and she hastily scrubbed at them, the title meant nothing to her "Besides my abilities what else am I going for" she asked another question hoping the blonde would just get this horribly meeting over with already.
Knowing her student wouldn't stop pestering her, and now that she didn't have to worry about Yamato, Tsunade steeled her nerves "Naruto and Sasuke have the utmost faith in you're abilities, as well as I do, you'd be able to stop Danzo from collaborating with Hanzo and save Yahiko" she explained.
"And with Yamato on you're side, you might even be able to prevent the Uchiha Massacre, and many more deaths" Tsunade continued in a gently tone, a sniffle filled the air and she lowered her eyes to her desk again, kami she loved the girl like she was her own daughter.
Considering the pinkette's own parents had died months earlier long before they'd ever returned after the war, not to mention she was only sixteen years old, before Tsunade could even try to console Sakura, she lifted her head bright emerald eyes narrowed in determination.
Yamato chuckled softly at the words that followed "Then what do we have to do to prepare for this mission" Sakura asked shoving her feelings to the side only thinking about her boys, Naruto and Sasuke, they were her rocks.
Shocked that she'd included him into her vow Yamato pressed his lips together and closed his eyes, pushing away the hurt he felt, knowing that if this mission worked, they'd be saving hundreds possibly thousands of lives "Yes, what do we need to do Lady Tsunade" he raised his head his own determination shining through his onyx eyes.
Tsunade felt her own heart crack and she couldn't help but jump from her swivel chair and fly around her desk pulling Sakura to her feet and embracing her in a bone crushing hug "Sakura, you sweet, sweet girl" she murmured over and over again as they cried their hearts out together.
Fifteen minutes later, they were once again sitting, her behind her desk and Sakura in the chair, while Yamato watched on with a fond smile, knowing how the two females felt about each other, even if they pretended not to know what anyone was talking about if they were questioned on it.
"Like I said you each have a year to prepare" Tsunade cleared her throat and pushed over a stack of books, along with a scroll stating that they were no longer active shinobi and had been relieved from their duties in order to plan.
Sakura felt anxiety bubble within her chest as an uncomfortable feeling like hands crushing her lungs formed in the pit of her stomach, her breathing accelerated and she hesitantly reached out and took the stack of books "Are.." Sakura licked her dry lips "Are we to read them all" she asked slowly.
The blonde heaved a world weary sigh drawing Yamato's gaze, Sakura was to busy looking at the books "Is there a purpose to those books" the brunette questioned keeping his eyes locked with those honey brown eyes.
"Yes, they will prepare both of you in surviving during the war, and on Hanzo's abilities, a document written by myself, that's never been published" Tsunade smiled sheepishly lightening the mood in the office, just a tiny little bit.
It drew a smile to Sakura's lips "How will we approach the Rain Orphans" she suddenly questioned, if she and Yamato were to walk up to them like they were, it would scare them into running away possibly and they'd never get anywhere with the orphans.
Tsunade bit her lip, this was the hardest part of all, and Yamato frowned his gut urging him to flee once again "A week before the mission is to be put into effect, using a jutsu, a forbidden one, you'll both be turned into seven year old children again" she stated in a calm tone.
Noticing how Sakura suddenly looked as if she was bordering on the edge of hysteria and Yamato looked as if he was about to run and hide and not even consider going through the mission now that she'd told them.
"WHAT" Sakura exclaimed in outrage "My abilities would be useless to them, I couldn't even use my chakra when I was seven, I was nothing but a weak annoyance to everyone" she mumbled her hatred of being left behind rearing it's ugly head.
Yamato grimaced shifting his gaze to Sakura's seated form "Is it really necessary to turn both of us into children, what if I remained an adult, and once she'd created a bond with the Rain Orphans, I could step in and take care of them" he suggested, Tsunade shook her head.
"That is what the other books are for, to help you regain you're abilities quicker, I found some books that the Sage of Six Paths, Hagoromo, wrote" Tsunade pointed to the three books on the bottom of the stack that sat in the pinkette's lap.
He grabbed one sheepishly while Sakura lifted one to her face reading the title, before they both flipped open their book reading a bit from it, before their eyes widened "Why isn't this technique applied anymore" Yamato shifted in his chair.
Sakura was just wondering why hand signs were even needed if you could just sit and meditate and be able to use you're chakra without to much effort, though she could tell that it would take a lot of practice to be any good at the skill.
"You want us to learn Ninshu Milady" she peered at her shishou who smiled at her guiltily "Okay I'll do it, what about you Yamato-taichou" Sakura shifted her eyes to Yamato who was staring at her already with determined expression.
Tsunade glanced between the two "I'm trusting you both to take care of each other, and don't ask me Yamato, who knows" she shrugged "And before you ask, don't worry about buying anything for this trip, I'm already in the process of stocking up on everything you'll need" Tsunade said bluntly.
Feeling honored that the Hokage was going through all that trouble "Thank you Lady Tsunade, and I promise no harm will come to Sakura, we are going to fix this whole mess" Yamato vowed while reaching out and patting the pinkette's hand kindly.
"Yes thank you Tsunade-shishou, guess we should get use to calling each other by our names and no titles huh Yamato-taichou...oops" Sakura rubbed the back of her neck with a sheepish smile drawing a smile to his lips.
Glad that she'd made the right decision in selecting her student and the former anbu, Tsunade smiled inwardly wishing the two of them good luck "Are we free to go now Milady" Sakura asked suddenly and she could hear the reluctance in the pinkette's voice, she was loathe to end their time together.
Tsunade sighed "You may go Sakura, Yamato, just remember we all have faith in the both of you" she sent the pinkette a smile as she and the brunette stood, Sakura grabbing the many books from her desk and left the office 'Please Kami Protect Them' she prayed hoping they survived.
-End Flashback-
"NOOO" Sakura screamed as Yamato held tightly to her hand, tears were falling from her eyes as she tried to reach out to Tsunade, but it was to late, the next thing that happened was her body hit the earth with a harsh thud, causing her to black out instantly.
Yamato was in a similar state as he reeled from the harsh impact squeezing his eyes shut before succumbing to the same fate as Sakura passing out, and that's how the both of them spent the first few hours in the past together.