So… I wrote this almost completely in one go last night. I finished it off just now, but I don't really know what to make of it. Well, not completely. Still, I hope it's entertaining. :)

Disclaimer that I don't own the Naruto universe.

Unchanging

She stared at the girl before her.

"Child," she spoke, "if this is true, then I do not see why you would not wish to change things."

The girl sighed, and Uzumaki Mito watched the conflict that warred in her expression. "It's not that I don't want to change things," the girl said, "it's just… What of the consequences? I shouldn't even be here in the first place, my presence is an accident, one that I need to remedy as soon as possible, and go home.

"The world was at peace when I left… Even though there was a lot of conflict leading up to it, who am I to decide that those battles were not worth it? Who am I to take away the sacrifices and all the progress that the nations made?"

Mito sighed now, and came to a decision. "Alright, Sakura," she conceded. "I will help you."

It was just over a week ago that the girl, Haruno Sakura, had come to them. Her arrival was not the most conventional. After all, how many people could say they met someone who literally fell from the sky? After an initial awkwardness, Sakura had eventually realised just what was going on, and hadn't wanted to say anything at first. But then Mito's father, the leader of their clan, had sent his daughter in to try to get information from her in a subtle, but reassuring way, and finally the girl had confessed.

It had seemed so impossible, until Sakura had recreated a seal from memory. That seal, identical to the one that had brought her here, had been verified by the highest experts in fuinjutsu in their clan as one that was certainly capable of utilising space-time for a time travel jutsu. As the Uzumaki clan were famous for their sealing abilities, they were quite open minded to the prospect of time travel, more than any other clan might be.

So now, as one of the top fuinjutsu users in Uzushiogakure, Mito was committed to helping Sakura find her way back home. But… She hadn't completely given up on the idea of Sakura changing things, either. The girl hadn't really given any details, and no one had pressed for them once they realised her circumstances. All Mito knew was that there was a terrible war, with terrible loss. The peace afterwards was hard-earned, and was the only thing stopping Sakura from doing anything to change the future.

The roseate buried herself in memorising seals and studying all the different ways they could be harnessed. The girl's own seal, which mimicked the mark on Mito's forehead in appearance only, was a testament to the fact that she already had a working proficiency with them. But now, with the Uzumaki scrolls at her disposal, she was fast becoming an expert.

And then one day, things changed. Word came to them of the Senju and Uchiha signing a treaty, and the construction of a ninja village began. That seemed to spur Sakura forward even more, and Mito wondered if the new village had anything to do with her own time. Was that where she was from?

And then the Uzumaki were asked to meet with the Senju. Mito's father had taken her aside and said it was likely that she would be marrying one of the Senju. An arranged marriage was hardly surprising for her, even though she'd expected it to be to someone who would be here, in Uzushiogakure. But with what her father had told her, then it seemed that Mito would be leaving her beloved home.

"I think we should take Sakura with us," Mito said. "The girl has been researching and experimenting non-stop for months now. I think a break will help her."

"I agree," Uzumaki Ryuu agreed.

Sakura was not happy, but seemed to recognise the need for a reprieve. At least until she learned where they were going.

"I can't go there!" she said, near hyperventilating.

"It won't be forever," Mito told her. "Once the talks are done, you'll come back here and resume your research. You admitted you could use the break."

"Yeah, but that was before I realised that…" Sakura broke off, biting her lip. "Mito, I can't go there!"

"Is it because it's your village in the future?" she asked, to the gaping shock of the roseate before her. "It wasn't too hard to figure out."

"You know…" Sakura said. "So surely you understand why I can't go?"

"You would be remaining with the Uzumaki retinue at all times," Mito told her. "You can even pretend you're just an attendant of mine, if you wish."

Eventually Sakura gave in, to Mito's joy, and when the day came for them to leave, Sakura was by her side, elegantly dressed in a kimono matching the two other girls who'd been chosen to accompany them as her attendants. The trip was uneventful, and they arrived in Konohagakure three days ahead of schedule.

Sakura kept her head down once they were there, standing back when Mito was introduced to her future husband and his brother. Senju Hashirama's silly and almost child-like demeanour made her giggle, and she was glad that he seemed to be a good man. During the day, Sakura remained by her side, along with Chinatsu and Kaori, though at night, she studied through the scrolls she'd managed to bring with her. Mito had frowned at her when she'd discovered this, but then let it be.

Things were going well, and Sakura seemed to be relaxing. She was smiling more, and even though she still maintained her distance, Mito could see that she was allowing herself this time to regroup her thoughts. But then one day things changed. Sakura was sitting with Chinatsu and Kaori, chatting silently off to the side while Mito 'got to know' her now official fiancé, when Hashirama's oldest friend and rival showed up. Apparently he'd been away for a mission, but had returned the previous night.

As it chanced, Mito had glanced over to Sakura when Uchiha Madara walked in. The girl stiffened, her face going carefully blank, though not before anger, hatred, and even a little fear had slipped out. Curious. Mito glanced over at Madara, saw that he hadn't even noticed the girl, was too busy talking with Hashirama. Glancing back over at Sakura, Mito saw that she was now determinedly avoiding looking over in the Uchiha's direction.

So… Perhaps the Uchiha were involved in what happened in the future? Or was it just Madara himself? Impossible, surely, considering how far Sakura'd said she'd come back? He surely would have been dead by the time she was born? Or at the very least, too old to cause that kind of disruption? More questions that would likely never be answered by the girl.

Caught up in her thoughts, Mito missed the moment that the object of the girl's ire glanced over at the roseate, a spark of interest in those calculating eyes.

Sakura withdrew into herself after that. It was like she'd had a reminder of her circumstance, and practically buried herself in the scrolls she'd brought with her. Each day, she did her best to petition to stay in the accommodation the Uzumaki had been given so that she could study. Sometimes she won her petition, sometimes she lost. But either way, all of her nights were taken up with her research.

Finally, it seemed she'd hit the jackpot. "I think I've figured it out," she told Mito one day, showing her the work she'd done. "This should get me home, and just in time, too."

"Just in time?" Mito asked, curious. "I would have thought that dealing with 'time' wouldn't have that restriction."

Sakura allowed herself a small smile at that. "It's just… I seem to have garnered some unwanted attention," she said. "I need to leave, before anything gets out of hand."

Mito's brow furrowed. "Unwanted attention?" she queried.

Sakura sighed and reluctantly said, "Someone has been… pursuing me. Romantically. At least, that seems to be their intention."

"Seems to be?" Mito repeated. "How can it be that it seems to be? Are they being obtuse or something?"

Sakura couldn't resist a snorted giggle at that, but then her brief smile fell. "This person… They go out of their way to speak to me," she admitted. "I try to avoid him, but I just… I need to go, now, Mito! Before anything could happen!"

Mito was more than a little startled by her vehemence. "Just who is it that's got you worked up so much, Sakura?" she asked.

Sakura's face fell even further. "It's… it's…" She took a deep breath and just forced out, "It's Uchiha Madara."

Mito's brow rose as high as it could go. Really? How could she have missed something like that? Well… She had been preoccupied with Hashirama a lot lately. Remembering the brief look on Sakura's face that first time she'd seen the man, Mito knew that the girl had probably become stressed from holding herself back. She knew that Sakura was passionate, had learned the hard way that she had quite the formidable temper.

"I'm worried," Sakura said. "I know how things work in this time for the major clans. What if he wants to petition for something, like with you and Hashirama? It would be an insult to refuse him, and that would risk having a negative impact on the time-line. What am I going to do?"

"No one is going to force you to accept any suit," Mito chastised her. "Honestly, since you're not actually affiliated with a clan, that's your biggest protection."

"I'm associated with your clan," Sakura reminded her.

"But you're not actually an Uzumaki, are you?" Mito reminded her. "You're Haruno Sakura, don't ever forget that."

That seemed to square the girl's shoulders, and Mito was glad to have helped.

And then she was accosted by Sakura's admirer.

"Mito-san," Madara spoke to her one day. "May I have a moment of your time?"

Mito inclined her head, and he joined her where she stood looking over a small creek. "Is this about Sakura?" she asked.

He nodded. "I have expressed my interest in her," he told her, "but she's rejected it. Me. You seem to be the closest to her… Is there nothing I can do to sway her opinion of me?"

"I am unsure," Mito admitted. "I know that she…" How to put this delicately?

Madara snorted. "She doesn't like me," he finished her sentence. "I've noticed."

"Then why do you persist?" Mito asked.

He shrugged. "There's something about her," he admitted. "Something that's drawing me in…"

Silence a moment, then Mito admitted, "She'll be returning home soon." Though not the way he'd consider.

He nodded stiffly. "I thank you for your time," he said, then left.

Mito sighed. She feared Sakura leaving would cause issues, though the girl was determined to do so. Nothing could convince her to stay, Mito had tried to get her to do something, anything, but the girl was just so stubborn. Really, when she thought about it, Sakura would likely be a perfect match for Madara, but whatever it was that had caused that look of anger and hatred in her eyes…

There was still time, though Mito doubted her ability to convince the girl, as she had yet to. Making her way back up to meet with Hashirama, she resolved herself to support Sakura's decisions, even if she didn't agree with them.

So, how was it? I was thinking of doing another bit from Hashirama's perspective, but I don't think it would mesh. Maybe. If I do, I'll add him to the character filter.

Anyway, review please! :)