Disclaimer: Naruto and its associated works do not belong to me. I'm just playing in the sandbox created by Masashi Kishimoto.

'Inner Sakura thoughts'

"Inner Sakura Speech"

A/N: Edit 17/02/2019 – Made some changes to Sakura's speech. I figured that someone who was raised by Kushina would eventually pick up on her verbal tick. Plus I changed the age of the Sakura who was raised by Kushina to differentiate between the Sakura we know and love/hate.

"Stupid Baka!" Sakura fumed, her hands closed into fists, as she strode off down the pathway towards her home from the Team Seven training ground. Behind her, Naruto was getting up to his feet while rubbing the bump on his head after being hit by one of Sakura's punches. The boy had been making numerous requests for a date in the space of two minutes – all after Kakashi had left them alone, and once Sasuke went "Hn" before leaving the opposite way. Every single time Sakura had said no, to a date. And, to Sakura at least, the worst thing was that Naruto kept on pushing for a date in front of her 'Sasuke-Kun'.

She swore there was steam coming out her own ears as she strode down the pathway under the bright morning sun and clear blue sky. There were some wisps of clouds floating by overhead as Sakura mentally prepared herself for the D-Rank mission the team would be beginning two hours from now.

The pink haired girl felt slightly relieved, especially after returning from the Land of Waves a week ago, 'D-Rank would be slightly better… at least for now. But that battle was something else.' Sakura remembered thinking that Sasuke almost died on that mission, but thankfully he was alive and well… and before long he recovered. She didn't think much of Naruto, believing that he wasn't much help and that it was Sasuke himself who must have knocked Haku out through one of his ice mirrors and onto the bridge.

Thinking about the raven-haired Uchiha calmed her down slightly, and she unfurled her fingers before the look of rage melted away and she stared down at the path. She heard the birds chirping in the sky as a gentle warm breeze passed her by when suddenly, "Sakura-chan!"

And the look of anger on Sakura's face returned. She missed the smirk on the face of the old lady seated on the bench a few inches away after she turned around to face Naruto, running towards her while still rubbing the back of his head.

"Sakura-chan," Naruto stopped and gave her a small smile, "can I at least walk you home? I..."

"No!" Sakura said shaking her head and waving her hands, "No!"

"I'm not asking you for a date, just… I mean…." Naruto scratched his cheek as he chuckled, "I just like you, Sakura-chan. I mean… I'd rather…"

"We're teammates," Sakura said, her heart filled with anger while she was searching for Sasuke with her eyes, hoping that the boy was nowhere nearby in case he saw her talking to Naruto, 'it could make him think that I'm interested in Naruto.' Sakura turned her full attention back to Naruto as she continued, "that's all we will ever be, Naruto. Nothing more."

"But…"

"Get this through your thick skull!" exclaimed Sakura as Naruto's eyes widened in surprise at the anger in her tone of voice. Sakura saw that surprise, and a part of her was telling her to power through. That feeling of wanting to power through overwhelmed her Inner Voice, which was telling her to calm down. But instead of listening to the Inner Voice in the back of her mind, Sakura continued, "I. DO. NOT. LIKE. YOU! Do you get that? While we're on missions, I'll be professional with you, and that's it. I do not want anything personal!"

"You… you don't mean that, Sakura-ch…"

"And stop with the Chan," Sakura was now panting as she glared at Naruto who took another step back, "it's Sakura-san. That's all I will ever be to you." Sakura then calmed down and rubbed her forehead while Naruto took another step back, his eyes looked away from her and back towards the ground.

"I can't be what you want me to be," Sakura said as she too took a step back from Naruto, "go home, Naruto. We have a mission later and…"

"Yeah," Naruto whispered, his voice full of hurt. He looked back at Sakura with such a distressed expression on his face that a part of her resolve to stop him from asking her for any more dates cracked. A part of her wanted to run up to him and say that she was sorry, that she was having a bad day, and that she didn't mean what she said. But Sakura ignored that part of her self, she was convinced that she didn't want anything to do with Naruto on a personal level. She saw Naruto step back again before he hunched his shoulders and put his hands into his pockets, "I hope Sasuke-Teme treats you right, 'ttebayo."

And then Naruto turned and walked away. Sakura stared at him before she too turned, only to face a wrinkly old woman with faded blue hair, blue eyes, a silver necklace with a faded rest stone set on a pendant, and a walking stick in her left hand smiling at her with a grin that was missing three teeth. The other teeth had turned brown, some were black, but they were all crooked.

"Sorry," Sakura made to move herself around the smiling Old Crone.

"I came to this world because you called, child," the woman giggled as she stared at Sakura before the latter could take a step. The twelve-year-old girl looked surprised as the Crone continued, "such fire, such anger and hate."

"Sorry, ma'am," the girl said, a chill going up and down her spine as she watched the Crone staring at her through sunken eyes, "I should be going, I have…"

"You called to me, child. Your deep seated rage, your hate… it is like a beacon," the woman said again as her eyes glanced at Naruto walking away. Her eyes then shifted back down to Sakura who was confused, "don't be so confused, Haruno Sakura."

"OK, this is weird," Sakura said, "I have to go, and…."

"I will grant you one wish, Sakura-san," the Crone said as Sakura was about to walk past her. The pink haired girl stopped and then swiftly turned towards the Crone who, with the same wide grin as before plastered on her face, turned towards her, "I am interested in what you have to give me. And in return, I will offer you one single wish."

Sakura chuckled as she stepped back before saying, "okay, ma'am, I'm sorry but you may want to go to the Konoha Hospital, and…"

"You hate the Uzumaki boy," the Crone said as Sakura stopped chuckling and stared at the old woman with a serious look on her face.

"I don't hate him," Sakura stepped forward, "I just don't want him to keep on asking me for dates, or to go on walks with him, or to just annoy me and ruin my day. I want him to stop that stuff. But that doesn't mean I hate…"

"It does," the Crone said, the smile slowly being wiped off her face as she gripped her walking stick tight, "I can see into your heart, Haruno Sakura. I see the hate you harbour for him. I see the rage… such unbridled rage towards him."

"This is crazy…"

"You don't trust him. You don't want him on your team. You would rather he quit so that he doesn't get in the way of your affections for the Uchiha boy," the Crone said as Sakura started to get angry, "but, I can help you with that. You want the Uchiha? You get the Uchiha. You want Uzumaki Naruto out of the way, I can make it happen."

Sakura huffed before she began to turn away. She fully intended to walk away from the woman when suddenly, the Crone said, "I am really here to help you, child. I felt your powerful emotions throughout time and space, I felt your hate and rage towards him through the dimensional veils." Sakura turned and faced the Crone with a look of confusion, and was about to speak when the old lady lifted an arm and the placed her hand on Sakura's chest, "feel it."

And Sakura felt such hate. Such intense hate that seemed as if it was coming from her very self when she thought about Naruto. That hate was combined with rage… rage that she was doing everything she could to suppress. However, all of that dissipated when the old lady moved her hand away. Sakura was panting at the crushing feeling those intense emotions had on her body. She went down on one knee as sweat gathered on her forehead while she hung her head… the pink bangs covering her eyes.

"See…. Such anger. Such hate."

"It… it can't be…." Sakura panted before she looked up at the old woman, "Naruto's annoying, he makes me angry…. He makes me…"

"I can get him out of your way, child," the woman said, placing a hand on Sakura's cheek. "Didn't I just hear you telling him not to bother you again."

"I.."

"Just wish it," the woman said, "wish it, and I can make it come true."

"What… what are you?" Sakura asked shaking her head in disbelief.

"Just a higher being that helps women with what they want," the Crone said, "my name is not important, but know that I have helped many women who harbour feelings as yours across a multitude of universes. Even now, there are those who yearn for my help. They call for me, even many on your world in this universe are calling for me. But you, out of all of them, are the one I chose."

"Why?" Sakura said.

"Because your hate and rage will give me the biggest payoff in this universe," the woman said with what could only be described as a sneer, "my service to you isn't free, however. You have something I want."

"I…" Sakura closed her eyes before asking, "what do you want?"

"I will show you what was, what could have been; both for this universe and for the multitudes of multiverses when it comes to you," the Crone said, "and I will give you your Sasuke. All for a measly price… I want your regret."

"I…."

"I want your regret, Haruno Sakura," the crone said, "what do you have to lose? You don't like the Uzumaki boy anyway, and you yourself admitted you don't want him near you. I mean, does it really matter that you get to see him only at a professional capacity? Come on, I know what's in your heart. You can't stand him."

"Will… will he… will Naruto be harmed?"

"Do you wish him harm?"

"Is that one of my wishes?"

"It's just a question," smirked the Crone.

"I… I don't want…"

"If you wish him harm, then he'll be harmed," the Crone said as Sakura got up to her feet, her eyes never leaving the blue eyes of the old woman, "depends on what your wish is going to be, Haruno Sakura."

"I…."

Every instinct Sakura had was telling her that this wasn't right That there was something very wrong with what was being offered. Sakura was screaming mentally at herself that everything that the old woman had told her could be just an elaborate prank, or a lie. Her Inner Self told her that the woman could just be an escaped mental patient and that she needed to report her to the Hospital.

'I think there's something wrong too, but if she really is just an escaped mental patient then what's the harm in making a wish… as ridiculous as it sounds. I mean, it won't come true anyway.'

Despite every instinct she had telling her to just shut her mouth, Sakura did the opposite. She simply wanted Naruto not to bother her again.

"Fine," Sakura said, "I'm guessing its fake…"

"It's very real," the Crone countered with a smirk, "once you make the wish, it cannot be taken back."

Sakura just stared at the crone who smiled back at her.

"I…." Sakura said, a tiny bit of hesitation on her part as she conversed mentally with her Inner Self that this was probably just a joke. That everything the old woman had said was a joke and that she knew her name thanks to Naruto yelling it out throughout the village when he asked her out on a date before and after missions. She told her Inner Self that the old woman must have heard it some time when Naruto would beg her to walk with him around the village, or go to eat some ramen, or to go train with him alone.

'It's a joke.'

"Fine," Sakura finally gave in to the Crone, "I wish that Naruto would leave me alone so he couldn't get in between me and Sasuke."

"Done," Sakura's eyes opened wide in disbelief when the crone's eyes glowed a bright blue before she slammed her hand onto Sakura's chest.

Suddenly, Sakura saw the world around her melt away. Her heart was racing as she watched the Crone vanish in front of her eyes, the woman seemingly getting younger as Sakura felt something deep within her being siphoned away. And then, there was a bright flash of light that forced Sakura to cover her eyes with both hands.

In the distance, as she placed her hands over her eyes, Sakura heard Naruto yell out, "SAKURA-CHAN!"

A few seconds later, with so much that she was trying to process, Sakura heard a woman's scream. She opened her eyes, only to find herself in a large enclosed space with a door to her left. She spun around in surprise before she heard the scream again, a scream of pain. She turned toward the source, a red-haired woman laying on a pedestal. She was very pregnant, her belly looked as of she was about to burst as two women stood at the edge of the pedestal between her legs.

"Push, Kushina!" the mask woman with grey hair exclaimed.

The woman, Kushina, screamed again as she pulled her head back. It was then, that Sakura noticed the blond man who had his hands on her belly… a section where it was completely black with some sort of symbols branching out towards the rest of her body.

Sakura stared with eyes wide open in shock at wondering where she was, how she got where she was, and who the people standing in front of her were.

"Hello!" Sakura yelled out. But the people in front of her ignored her.

"They cannot see you, nor can they hear you," a disembodied voice said… a familiar voice. Sakura recognized it as the voice of the Crone, but it sounded younger. The voice sounded more vibrant and alive, "I did tell you that once you made the wish, you would see everything that was… that would be, and what could be throughout different times. Now watch, and I will take the price we agreed… your everlasting regret."

"Wait… I.." Sakura stopped when the woman identified as Kushina yelled out a name in pain.

"Naruto, get out!"

"Naruto?" Sakura whispered as her eyes locked onto the woman.

"Kyuubi, stay inside!"

The man yelled, and Sakura's eyes darted towards him. He looked so familiar, but she couldn't place him. But it was the Kyuubi that got her attention as her eyes went back to Kushina.

"The... the Kyuubi?" Sakura whispered. Everyone knew the story of the Kyuubi attack twelve years ago, everyone knew of the damage and deaths the attack caused, and everyone knew that the Fourth Hokage was the one who killed the beast at the cost of his own life. And that was when Sakura realized who the man was; and her eyes snapped towards him.

"Yondaime." Sakura whispered before she looked over at Kushina, "and the Kyuubi? The Kyuubi took on a female form and named itself Kushina?" Sakura was confused, "so… wait… what?" But before Sakura could say anything out loud to herself, Kushina screamed out again before another scream joined in. The cries of a baby.

Sakura stared with bated breath as the Yondaime hung his lower jaw open, his body relaxed with a stunned look on his face.

"You did it," he whispered as Sakura walked over to Kushina; the woman had tears going down her cheeks as the Yondaime spoke, "I'm a father." Sakura looked over at the pure joy on the Yondaime's face as one of the two masked woman wrapped the baby up in white towels before one of them carried him towards the mother. Sakura watched as the woman with grey hair told the Yondaime off when he reached out to hold the baby in his arms. Sakura couldn't help but chuckle when the woman said that the first face the baby should see should be his mother. Sakura stepped back as the baby was handed to a still panting Kushina. Sakura walked back towards Kushina's sweat covered head and looked down at Naruto. The boy was quiet now as he looked back up at his mother.

"You're the son of the Yondaime," Sakura whispered as she watched Naruto's eyes stare up at Kushina, "did you ever know? Naruto, did you ever know?" She watched the grey-haired woman retrieve the baby while the Yondaime walked up to Kushina, excitement on his face, as he thanked his wife.

"Now, let me close the seal and then…"

Suddenly there were the sounds of thuds from behind Sakura. She turned to find the two women falling to the ground dead, and baby Naruto in the arms of a masked man… a Kunai being held to the baby's throat.

"Naruto," Sakura whispered as she watched in helplessly in horror.

"Yondaime Minato," the masked man growled in a tone that sent shivers through Sakura's body, "get away from the Jinchuriki, or else your baby will die."

'Jinchuriki,?' Sakura wondered what that word meant. She looked over at Kushina, and then at the seal on her belly and then at the Yondaime before looking at the masked man again. But before she could think any further, all hell broke loose. In ever growing horror, she watched as Naruto nearly died, she watched as Kushina was abducted, she watched as the masked man extracted the Kyuubi out of Kushina's seal. Sakura felt as if she was everywhere at once. She felt the terror of the villagers after the masked man released the Kyuubi into the village while the Yondaime returned Kushina to Naruto in one of his safe houses. She watched, with trembling hands that covered her mouth as the battle to save Konoha began.

Sakura watched Iruka's parents die, she watched Kakashi and many others sequestered in the forest so that they wouldn't risk their lives. Sakura watched in awe and fear as the Yondaime and the masked man fought – she would be the only one who knew what really happened that fateful day. As Sakura continued to watch, she saw even more destruction by the Kyuubi. And then everything came to a head- Sakura felt herself drawn from all over Konoha to one single location.

And she knew that it was something that would be seared into her mind forever. The twelve-year-old Genin watched in horror as the Yondaime was speaking to his weakened wife – the man was going to use a technique that would seal half of the Kyuubi's chakra into his body… and before long his soul and half of the Kyuubi would be fighting for eternity in the belly of the Shinigami.

"No," Sakura whispered shaking her head as tears fell down her cheeks at what the Yondaime said next.

"The other half would be sealed into Naruto."

Sakura listened in horror as Kushina said that Jinchuriki's were hated by villagers. Kushina begged Minato not to seal the Kyuubi into Naruto, but Minato convinced her it was necessary. He was confident that the masked man had a greater agenda and that he would return at a time when the Shinobi world would be weakened.

"I believe that our son will control the Kyuubi… I know he will," Minato said, pressing his forehead against Kushina's while yellow chains that darted out of her back earlier were holding the Kyuubi at bay, "Kushina, do you remember Jiraiya sensei talking about a child of prophecy?" Sakura listened, her heart threatening to burst out of her chest at the thought of Naruto shouldering such a burden on his own, as Minato continued, "I believe Naruto is that child. I know that the masked man will return, and Naruto will stop him. Our son will bring about a change in the Shinobi world… I know it. I believe in it."

"How can you be sure?" Sakura and Kushina asked, the former with tears streaking down her face.

"Because he is our son," Minato said placing a hand behind Kushina's neck, and smiling at his wife, "because every parent has faith that their children will surpass them. And I know Naruto will surpass the two of us."

"Minato," Kushina whispered.

"I'll be placing some of my chakra into the seal, and I'll place the rest of your chakra into the seal as well… you will see him again, Kushina, when he'll be ready to control the Kyuubi's chakra," Minato said as Sakura shook her head while stepping back. Sakura was numb form the overwhelming number of emotions that were going though her body. And her knees crumbled as she watched the end - the Kyuubi was now smaller since half of its chakra was in Minato... she watched how weak he had become. She saw the ritual pedestal summoned onto teh center of the field they were in, Sakura watched with tear stained eyes as Minato placed his baby boy on the ritual pedestal just as Kushina caughed up blood. Sakura then witnessed, in horror, as the Kyuubi shot a claw out towards the unprotected Naruto.

"NOOOO!" Sakura yelled just before Kunshina and Minato saw what was happening. Sakura covered her lips with her hands, and stared with sobs escaping her lips as a single claw stabbed both Minato and Kushina, the two of them combining what remained of their strengths and bodies to protect their boy. Sakura rushed to the couple as Kushina collapsed on her knees again; the pink haired girlheard the message that Kushina left for Naruto – to eat properly, to keep clean, to study hard, to remember the Shinobi vices, to make friends- not too many friends, but ones that he could trust, and to find a girl just like herself.

Sakura then saw the Yondaime place the seal on Naruto's belly, the dying man, his soul and the Kyuubi chakra entering the Shinigami's stomach, whispered, "Eight-triagram Seal." And that was the end, Sakura was shaking her head as she saw the Kyuubi, roaring in rage, get pulled into Naruto. She rushed to the Yondaime as he fell to the ground dead before she made her way to Kushina just as the Sandaime arrived with two of his personal guard. Sakura, tears blurring her vision, listened as Kushina whispered through shrotening breathes, "his name is Naruto, Sandaime. Protect him.. please… see… see that the people know… Know that he's a hero… the… the… Kyuubi… locked…. In…"

"Kushina," the Sandaime whispered as the redhead took her last breath. Sakura was crying as she watched Naruto start to wail while the Sandaime held him close. She watched as the Sandaime hid Naruto's lineage… his Namikaze name… so that the baby would be protected from the Yondaime's enemies. Sakura watched as the Sandaime told the advisors that Minato chose another baby since his and Kushina's child died during a difficult birth… and that the baby would be given the family name of Uzumaki to protect the family who had to sacrifice their baby. But it was a lie… Sakura watched as the advisors said that the baby needed to be put into an orphanage. She was shaking her head at the cruelty of what she was seeing as the advisors said that even the Sandaime couldn't adopt the child since it would be showing favouritism to his own clan.

Any clan selected would also feel the wrath from the other clans at adopting the Kyuubi child – so that was counted out as well.

Sakura wanted to kill the Council members as she watched them walk away. She watched as a few seconds later, a young Kakashi rushed into the room. He wanted to know if the rumours were true about the Yondaime dying. Sakura watched as Kakashi begged to adopt Naruto since he was the Yondaime's last legacy; but he was denied since he was still a child himself. However, the Sandaime gave Kakashi several objects to hide… including Naruto's real birth certificate that spelled out the names of his parents very clearly. Those were to be his when he became a Jonin or turned Eighteen.

Sakura watched as the Sandaime publicly revealed that Naruto was a hero for being the jailor of the Kyuubi; and she watched at that good intent blew up in the Sandaime's face.

People hated Naruto now. They saw him as the Kyuubi reincarnated, and so the Sandaime created a law that would prevent the younger generation from finding out that Naruto was the Kyuubi container… thus giving him a chance to form bonds with the next generation. Sakura closed her eyes and listened to the voices of the villagers around her whispering that the boy wasn't welcome into their stores or restaurants. She listened as they wouldn't let him shop for groceries or clothes. Opening her eyes, she watched a sullen three-year-old Naruto in front of the Sandaime before being placed into an apartment where he would be living alone for the rest of his childhood.

Sakura watched Naruto's entire life, and it made her sick. She saw kept of seeing the hateful stares from the adults. She saw the children who would play with Naruto being called back by their parents and then told not to play with him since he was a bad influence. She then saw herself, Ino, Shikamaru, Choji, and a few others playing with Naruto. But when her parents came to pull her away, she was also told that Naruto wasn't a good boy and that she couldn't play with him anymore.

"Forgive me," Sakura whispered as she continued through Naruto's life. She saw that it was Naruto who beat Haku after gaining access to the Kyuubi chakra. And Sakura screamed out in anguish. She was sobbing hard as she watched what could have been. She saw Sasuke walk away from the village to join Orochimaru after being marked by him after the incident at the Chuunin Exams, she saw herself sobbing as she begged Naruto to bring him back. She saw Naruto, Shikamaru, Neji, Kiba and Choji rush off.

A stunned Sakura watched as Sasuke and Naruto stood on opposite sides of the Valley of the End; Sasuke on top of the head of Uchiha Madara, and Naruto on the head of Senju Hashirama. Sakura was panting, willing the both of them not to fight. She was willing for Sasuke to hear Naruto... for him to come back home to Konoha. She remembered the memory she saw of herself begging Sasuke to stay, she saw him still walk away after knocking her unconscious. And now, at the Valley, Sakura could only hope things would t urn out differently. She heard Naruto try to use words to convince him to come back, but that didn't work. Sasuke refused to return to Konoha. He said that Konoha was weak, that he couldn't get the power he needed to beat Itachi from that place, and Orochimaru was the only one who could give him that power. Sakura watched stunned as Sasuke told Naruto he didn't care if Orochimaru took his body for himself, all he wanted was power.

"Oh God, no," Sakura whispered as the two battled. She watched in awe and fear as the two went at it... it was a brutal fight. She screamed when Sasuke broke Naruto's neck, seemingly killing him only for a red bubbling cloak to envelope the blonde's body; a cloak that began healing every injury. 'The Kyuubi's power,' Sakura then watched as Naruto launched a brutal counter attack.

"You're my friend!" Naruto yelled out, "and if I have to break your arms and legs to stop you from going to Orochimaru, then I will!"

"Loser!"

"Stop!" Sakura yelled, knowing full well she couldn't be heard.

Sakura watched as the curse seal took over Sasuke, changing his body to what looked like a winged demon. She watched as he formed the chidori, and then she looked over at Naruto beginning the Rasengan.

"Rasengan!"

"Chidori!"

"Nooo!" Sakura yelled out. She watched as the two powerful jutsu clashed, she watched as Sasuke nearly stabbed Naruto, his fingers pulling back into a punch at the last minute. She watched Naruto about to use his red coloured cloak around his hand in the shape of a claw to slash the Uchiha's face, only to instead slash the raven haired boy's headband. And then the battle was over. Sakura was crying as Naruto lay still with Sasuke standing over him. She saw him hesitant for a second before walking away. Sakura watched the boy she thought she loved walk away from all of them; from her, from Naruto, from the village. Sakura turned back towards the still Naruto as she went back down on her knees.

She looked at his face, and then at his blood stained jacket, and then back up at his face, "wake up, Naruto. Wake up." It would be later, after Kakashi recovered Naruto's unconscious body that the boy would wake up. Sakura was watching as their sensei carried him to Konoha, she heard Naruto whisper, "sorry, Sakura-chan. I failed." And then he went unconscious again. Sakura watched as the team sent to retrieve Sasuke returned days later – Neji and Choji were in critical condition - they were on the knifes edge of death; Kiba and Akamaru were badly injured, Shikamaru had a minor injury, and Naruto was so injured that he was wrapped up in bandages from head to toe.

"I'll bring him back for you, Sakura-chan… it's a promise of a lifetime!"

Sakura watched as Naruto left for a three-year training stint. She watched herself training under the Sannin, Tsunade. She watched as Naruto came back to the village. She watched as they grew stronger together. She watched as they grew closer and closer together; all the while chasing Sasuke. She looked on as Sasuke attacked them – once in the lab of the Snake Sannin, Orochimaru, and the other time in the Land of Iron. She watched as Sasuke nearly killed her, if not for Naruto's intervention.

She watched as Naruto grew from the annoying child to a slightly less annoying young man. But, as she saw in the fragments of images that surrounded her, Sakura watched herself accepting the blonde slowly over time. She saw herself swear to protect him from the Akatsuki, she saw herself defeating Sasori with Chiyo by her side, and she saw herself becoming more confident in her medical abilities.

She also saw that Sasuke was her greatest weakness.

And Naruto was her strength, her rock, the one person who was pushing her to become better than she already was.

She watched images of a future that could never be. She watched herself tell Naruto that she loved him. She watched as Naruto rejected that confession of love… she watched as the two of them argued about that confession after returning back to Konoha from the Land of Iron. But the argument didn't last long, Sakura saw that they had grown too close for an argument to destroy what they had between them. The twelve-year-old watched with bated breath as the teen version of herself and Naruto talked in private about how they felt about each other; they were completely open with no secrets between them.

The twelve-year-old, with dried tear stains on her cheek, watched as Naruto then left Konoha again to train in using the Kyuubi chakra.

And then came the war. She watched as she and Naruto fought side by side with a supposedly reformed Sasuke. She watched as Neji, Inoichi, and Shikaku fell during the war. She watched as the infinite Tsukuyomi was activated. She watched as the masked man was revealed to be Uchiha Obito. She watched as the madman, Uchiha Madara, nearly killed Maito Gai. She watched as Kaguya was revealed to be the greater evil. She watched Obito die. She watched her future self, Naruto, and Sasuke beat Kaguya.. the latter two sealing her away.

The twelve year old saw Naruto saying goodbye to his Edo Tensei father. She watched his entire life, and all Sakura wanted to do was rush up to him and hold him tight. Sakura watched in horror as Sasuke revealed his plans to kill the five Kage and Naruto. She heard herself proclaim her love for Sasuke again before being hit by a genjutsu punch through her chest. She then watched as Naruto and Sasuke… two humans with the power of gods, fought for the future of the shinobi world. She saw the end of their battle… the two of them lost an arm each with Sasuke finally acknowledging Naruto.

And then things branched off. Sakura saw worlds where she married Sasuke and had children…. In some futures she had only one, and in others she had two, or three, and in some case she had five. When Sakura saw her alternate selves with Sasuke… she saw herself happy. And then she saw the multiple futures where she married Naruto. The twelve year old Sakura saw happiness in her future selves. As she watched herself married to Naruto, she felt a feeling of warmth in her heart.

She knew she was happy with Sasuke. She knew she was also happy with Naruto… that latter giving her a warmth though her body. It was something that confused her.

Then suddenly, Sakura found herself in the room where Naruto was born. She got up onto her feet as the masked man, Uchiha Obito, stood still with Naruto in his arms. Everyone was still, even the air seemed still as Sakura walked towards the image of the masked Obito. Just as she reached the man, Sakura spun around at hearing a familiar female voice.

"How was it?" a blue eyed young woman in a red dress, a pendent on a necklace she was wearing glowed a bright blue, said before taking a bite out of a swirling ball of red and blue energy in the palm of her left hand. Sakura stepped back as she watched the young woman step towards the still Kushina. She then shook her head and looked over at Sakura, "well? How did you like traveling the tapestry that is the life of one Uzumaki Naruto?"

From what she said, and from the necklace, Sakura recognized this woman as the old Crone from earlier. She closed her hands into fists before saying, "I want to retract my wish." And the young woman in the red dress chuckled before taking another bite into the slowly refilling ball of energy while her pendent glowed ever more brightly, "please, I thought you were joking.. I thought…"

"Humans are such pitiful and petty creatures," the woman said after she stopped chuckling, "I told you what would happen. But you made the choice… you made the wish."

"I thought it was a joke!"

"What was it then?" the woman said looking at the still image of Minato, "what changed your mind? That Naruto's the son of the Yondaime Hokage? I mean come on, the son of a Hokage's a pretty big deal, isn't it? That why you're changing your mind? So shallow."

"That's not it," Sakura said glaring at the woman, "I know… I know what he's been through now. I know that…"

"Not good enough!" the woman exclaimed with a maniacal grin on her face as Sakura shook her head while whispering that she was wrong, "anyway, it's not like I care what you want. A deal was made, and…" she took another bite off the ball of energy, "I'm going to get everything I want now." She nodded at the ball of energy in her hand before saying, "this is the sum of your regrets. You saw a boy who needed someone, and you weren't there. Awww… that's so sweet."

"I want my life back!" Sakura yelled out, "I want to go back and apologize to Naruto, I want to…"

"Well, you can't," the woman countered, "now, I will have the rest of your regrets… and then I'm off into another universe. But I have to say, I love the taste of your everlasting regrets…" The woman then nodded while tapping the glowing pendent, "it will keep me full… umm… maybe more than a year? Maybe it'll last much longer… your regret is so filling. Anyway, see what happens when you make a wish, Haruno Sakura."

Then the figures started to move. But there was something wrong, where once there was the sound of a baby crying, now there was nothing. Except for a sudden gasp, and then a scream from Kushina, there were no sounds of a baby crying.

Sakura turned around to face the masked man, she wanted to know why the Baby suddenly went so quiet. And what she saw had Sakura's heart stop beating and her body grow cold as she looked down and screamed at the kunai stuck into Naruto's chest. She stumbled back, screaming in anguish as the glow from the pendent attached to the woman's necklace and the size of the growing ball of energy in the palm of her hand increased. It was a sign that the woman was absorbing all of the regret that was going through Sakura as the pink haired girl watched, with an expression of anguish, the body of baby Naruto dropped unceremoniously to the ground.

"Naruto!" Kushina, Sakura, and Minato yelled together.

"You swore to me he wont be harmed!" Sakura yelled looking back at the woman.

"He didn't feel a thing," the woman chuckled as Sakura was about to leap at her in anger.

"Minato sensei!" Sakura snapped her head towards the stunned look on Minato's face before looking back at Obito as he took off his mask and dropped it to the floor.

"O… Obito? Why?" an anguished Minato exclaimed.

"Because you were not there to save her!" Obito yelled out before he moved so fast that the still stunned Minato didn't see him until it was too late, and a Kunai was impaled into the Yondaime's chest. Sakura yelled out as Obito hissed into Minato's ear, "I don't blame Kakashi… that idiot wasn't a master of seals. You were. You killed Rin since you weren't there to make sure that the Sanbi was sealed away, so I kill your son, and now I will leave your wife to die after I extract the Kyuubi."

"No," Minato whispered, blood trickling down the sides of his mouth, "Obit…"

"Die."

Sakura and Kushina screamed in anguish as the kunai was twisted before being pulled out and then impaled back into Minato's stomach, and then into his side."

"Obito!" Kushina yelled as the mysterious woman laughed while eating the growing energy ball in her hand.

"Please, stop this!" Sakura begged the woman, "please! I'm begging you. I will do anything… anything! STOP THIS!"

"I have all I want from you, Haruno Sakura," the woman said as Kushina screamed after Obito released the seal. "So much regret, so much that it would keep me sustained for a very long time before I have to go feed again. Goodbye." The woman faded as Sakura looked back at Kushina who was screaming in pain.

"Come on out, KYUUBI!"

"No!" Sakura, eyes opening wider in ever growing horror, yelled as everything around her suddenly flashed white.

Fourteen Years later, Uzushigakure.

"Sakura-chan!"

A fourteen-year old Haruno Sakura formed a smile on her face at hearing the female voice yelling her name as she lay on the grass covered hilltop with the bright blue sea in the distance. She could hear the sounds of the many natural whirlpools far off in the distance as well as hear the waves gently crashing against the long stretch of beach nearby, all while she rested her head on the grass covered ground. As she listened to the soothing noises of the sea, Sakura was pointing up at the wisps of clouds floating overhead. "Ramen," she chuckled at a particular cloud that had the shape of a giant bowl, with wisps of cloud branching out the top in the shape of ramen noodles.

Sakura watched another cloud float past in the shape of a horse, and then a pig, and then she could swear she had seen one that looked like a shuriken. Hearing the voice of the female calling out to her, Sakura closed her eyes as she breathed in and out, in and out. It wasn't that she was angry at being called by the woman, she was her sensei and the woman - someone she considered to be her adopted mother - who saved her life after all. It was just that Sakura was tired of carrying the burden of being the one who could very well stop the ongoing war; a war that had already killed over three million in three years.

'I was too young to remember how it all began in Konoha,' Sakura thought to herself as she stared up at the clouds, her black shirt and trousers partially torn in several places after her latest attempt at a jutsu that was developed by the Niidaime Hokage of Konoha, and then improved on by the Yondaime Hokage - the dead husband of her sensei and saviour, someone who had been a mother to her since she lost her parents when the Kyuubi completely and utterly destroyed Konoha itself. It would be when she was six years old that she began training to become a shinobi like her Uncle Kakashi and Gai. More than that, it was Namikaze Kushina herself who told Sakura later in life that the pink haired girl could be a person instrumental in wining the war that she knew was coming.

And sure enough, it was three years ago that the Fourth Great Shinobi was declared by Uchiha Obito after he gained control of eight of the nine tailed beasts. Sakura heard this story many times, she knew her sensei was once the Jinchuriki for the Kyuubi, she knew about her sensei witnessing the death of her baby and her husband at the hands of a boy she thought was dead… a boy who was so consumed in anger and sorrow that he destroyed everything that meant anything to him.

Sakura heard stories about Konoha. She heard about the people, the places, and the Will of Fire. Oh how she wanted to see the great stone faces on the Hokage Mountain… faces that were now shattered into piles of rock after the Kyuubi destroyed everything. Sakura still remembers the story of how she was found, 'sensei was badly weakened and injured, but she managed to return to Konoha. She saw the destruction in front of her, she heard the screaming from the many injured everywhere around her… she smelled the blood and death in the air.' Sakura remembered hearing about how her sensei, Namikaze Kushina, walked into the destroyed village will tears in her eyes... tears that streaked down her cheeks as she limped onwards. She saw so many dead that day, and the ones that were injured were about to die from critical injuries. She continued on, eventually finding the body of Uchiha Mikoto and several members of her extended family as well as her husband.

And then, she was met by a slightly injured Kakashi - the boy had his Sharingan ripped out of his left eye socket, Kurenai, Asuma, and several of the other young Genin and Chuunin who were far away from the destruction. They were protected behind a barrier jutsu when the Kyuubi first appeared and began its attack on Konoha. They were only free off the barrier jutsu because the debris from the destruction caused by the Kyuubi spread outwards towards their location and shattered the trees with the barrier seals. Once they were free, they returned to the village - but not before Obito appeared before a suprised Kakashi, Asuma, and Kurenai before ripping out the eye he had given Kakashi - to find their village destroyed. It was then that they met with Kushina. It was Kushina who ordered them to find survivors, it was she who suggested that they needed to leave Konoha.

Sakura, as she remembered the story as told by Kushina, was found as a baby wailing in the arms of her dead mother while her father lay close by… his body was pale. He was impaled by a metal pipe while Haruno Mebuki, a former classmate and friend of Kushina's, was partially crushed by flying debris that crashed onto her. It was Kushina who found Sakura wailing, it was Kushina who comforted her, and it was Kushina who made sure she was healthy and fed. After all, Kushina watched her own baby murdered earlier that night, and there was no way in hell that she was watching another baby die.

Eventually, out of a village of over three hundred thousand, there were only three thousand survivors – out of that, there were fifty two shinobi including Kakashi. With the hidden village wiped off the map, Kushina suggested that there was only one pace they could go to recover and be safe, at least for the time being.

Uzushiogakure, the Village Hidden in the Whirlpools; the destroyed home of the Uzumaki Clan.

That's where Sakura and the other children who were saved that day grew up while the adults slowly rebuilt the village. It was in Uzu that she was educated, where she was trained by Kakashi, Asuma, and the others. Uzu was where Kushina discovered that the pink haired girl had low reserves of Chakra – something that would be increased in time – but exceptionally fine chakra control. Kushina and Kakashi were surprised that Sakura, when she started basic training at six with the other children, was able to walk up trees and walk on water with only Chakra without any instructions. It was as if she was doing it on instinct alone.

When she was seven, it was found that Sakura was highly intelligent based on IQ tests and written exams that were given to the children by Kushina and the other Konoha chuunin and Jonin when . they began their own small Academy. In regards to her adopted daughter, Kushina was very well aware that paper tests rarely translated into practical skills. Sakura didn't have a bloodline-limit, nor a clan to her name, nor any jutsu's that she could call her own. But Kushina knew that Sakura had the drive to be better than she already was from the moment the pink haired girl learned about ninjutsu. So, while Kushina was already Sakura's adoptive mother - the woman known as the Red Hot Habanero took on Sakura as her ninja apprentice. Sakura would train and study with her friends - Hinata, Choji, Kiba, and many of the other children who survived Konoha's destruction - during the day; and at night she would have one-on-one intensive training with Kushina herself.

By the time she was nine years old, Sakura increased her chakra capacity and reserves and was already proficient in taijutsu with help from Gai, Kakashi, and Kushina. Sakura also had help from the recently returned Senju Tsunade, thus the pink haired girl was able to utilize her chakra control in many 'unique' ways together with her Taijutsu. She also learned a few Ninjutsu techniques related to her nature affinities of Earth and Water; and was about to begin training in Genjutsu with Kakashi and Kurenai.

Four Years ago.

It would be when she was ten years old that Kushina, the wife of the late Yondaime Hokage and Konoha's Yellow Flash, presented the pink haired girl with a certain keepsake.

"Sensei," Sakura had said four years ago, wonder in her voice, looking down at the three pronged Kunai in her hands. She was on her knees in front of Kushina as she stared at the silver kunai before looking up into the red haired woman's violet eyes, "this is…"

"One of Minato's Hiraishin markers," Kushina said, her eyes focused on the kunai before looking at Sakura, "in a few years the war will be coming here, Sakura. We've already taken refugees from Kiri and Kumo, as well as some of the smaller villages in the Lands of Fire, Lightning, and Wind. All the refugees spoke the same; beings calling themselves White Zetsu's that could absorb the chakra of both Shinobi and ordinary people nearly destroyed towns and hidden villages. The frightening thing is that they can literally become people from teh village they are infiltrating and cause unimaginable destruction. The destruction they can cause… or rather have caused… is immense."

"But the seals surrounding Uzu should be able to discern flesh and blood from these… ummm… White Zetsu's?"

"We've already had forty Zetsu's killed when they tried to come through the barrier seals surrounding the island," Kushina confirmed, "we're safe for now. But, according to Jiraiya-sama, the biggest danger is still Obito; if we can remove his control of the Tailed Beasts, then we can have them aid us in killing him and the Zetsu's."

"But the tailed beasts are monsters," Sakura said.

"I've been thinking a lot about that," Kushina sighed before she looked out her window at the deep blue sea, "when Uchiha Madara first gained control of the Kyuubi and then used it to attack the Shodai Hokage, he usurped the will of the beast."

"A Sharingan can control the tailed beasts," Sakura said as she remembered her studies, "as can anyone using a Mokuton jutsu. But knowledge of that Jutsu died with the Shodai-sama, not even Tsunade-sama, a Senju, has access to that jutsu. And Tenzo-san can used Mokuton Jutsu… but he's only one man and there is no way to know if he can access the more advanced Mokuton abilities."

Kushina then continued after nodding her head.

"My ancestor, Uzumaki Mito, sacrificed herself to become the Kyuubi's first Jinchuriki,,," Kushina said before her head turned to look back at Sakura kneeling on both knees in front of her, "and then I was the human sacrifice that was supposed to keep the beast locked away." Kushina then hung her head as she fought the tears that were threatening to gather as she remembered Obito's betrayal. Kushina sniffled before looking back up at a concerned Sakura who placed the kunai on the floor next to her, and then shimmied forward before hugging Kushina tight.

"I wish I met him, you know," Sakura whispered in her ear, "Naruto I mean. I wish I met him. Maybe we could have been good friends."

"Me too," Kushina whispered as she held onto the hug for a few more seconds before pulling back. She took in a deep breath before continuing with her previous chain of thought, "can you imagine, Sakura, you were once free to move and live as you chose. But then you are forced to be controlled against your will, and then you were locked away for years. Years upon years, how would you feel?"

"I would be angry… I would hate everyone… I would…" And Sakura suddenly realized something, "the Kyuubi's supposed to be the most powerful of the tailed beasts, and it was locked away for so long against its will. The hate it has for Mito-sama, the Uchiha, and the Shodai…. And you… that hate spilled onto humanity itself. It's hate surpassed all the other tailed beasts because of how powerful it was."

"That's why, after Obito is defeated, the tailed beasts will be freed… but there is a danger that they will turn on humanity," Kushina said, "I intend to make them an offer."

"Sen…"

"To give them their freedom," Kushina said, "in return for taking me."

"Sensei!" Sakura exclaimed, "that's…"

"I will ask them to aid us in destroying the white Zetsu army," Kushina said, "in return, I will agree to go with them so that they can tear me apart if they…"

"You're talking…"

"I will shoulder their hatred for humanity, Sakura," Kushina said in a serious tone of voice, "I know I am the last Uzumaki. I've already made arrangements in regards to what will happen when I'm gone."

"Kushina-sensei… you…"

"I've lived through two wars, Sakura," Kushina said, "I want there to be peace for your generation. That's why I want you to unlock the Hiraishin's secrets… that was something that Minato was able to do which I could not. But I know that you can… you're the smartest person I know… and you have the will and the drive to unlock it. I know you'll be the key in ending this war. At the same time, I will take you out of your genjutsu lessons and begin teaching you sealing techniques; techniques that Kakashi and Jiraiya-sama will expand on after I'm gone."

"Please, don't…" Sakura felt the tears fall down her cheeks as Kushina reached out and gently lay her hands on her cheeks, "you can't talk like that. I lost… I lost my parents and now… now I can't… lose you."

"And you will endure," Kushina whispered gently, "you have the Will of Fire, as does all the shinobi and civilians who moved here from Konoha. Uzu is Konoha's spiritual successor, and I know in my heart that everyone here will defend the village and pass the Will of Fire down to the next generation, and the next, and the next; to love, cherish, and protect the village." Kushina hugged Sakura once again, the younger pink haired girl silently crying on the redhead's shoulder, "I know you can do this, Sakura. I have faith that you can inspire Hinata, Choji, and the others in the battle to come, and in the future peace that we hope to create."

And all Sakura could do was nodded her head silently.

Present day.

"Sakura-chan, where are..." Sakura giggled before she pushed herself up on her elbows and then moved her head back with a wide grin on her face at the sight of the middle-aged redhead making her way towards her. The red-haired woman was shaking her head with an excited look on her face as she yelled out, "there you are! We lost your chakra signature for a little while there, 'ttebane!"

"It could be an after-effect of the space-time jutsu 'ttebane, Sensei!" Sakura said as she slowly got up to her feet, in her excitement she didn't notice saying out the verbal tick she picked up from Kushina. Kushina chuckled at the Sakura's verbal tick before she noticed the tears on the pink haired girl's shirt; there were tears on the parts that covered her abdomen, shoulders, her collar, even her leggings were torn in various places. Then there were the cuts on her upper and lower arms and the cut on her left cheek that were still red – but luckily, Sakura wasn't bleeding profusely. Despite the minor injuries, Sakura grinned as she spoke, "I did it though, 'ttebane. Hiraishin without the need for a kunai… well, not really anyway.. Using my own chakra as markers is kinda different, and there's a weird feeling, 'ttebane."

Kushina grinned at the girl who, long ago, she had accepted as a daughter she never had. Gently, Kushina placed her hands on Sakura's shoulders and leaned in to kiss her forehead.

"You did good, Sakura," Kushina pulled back and looked into Sakura's eyes, "I'm proud of you, 'ttebane."

"Thank you, Sensei," Sakura gave Kushina a bow before standing up straight, "I still have some work to do though."

"That you managed to move from the training ground on the other side of the island to here on your first try is amazing, 'ttebane," Kushina said, "but yea…" Kushina eyed Sakura's injuries again before continuing, "we'll need to make sure you don't get injured when entering the space-time tunnel that'll move you from one location to another, 'ttebane. I'll have Kakashi train with you on using the Hiraishin with combat techniques – just like Minato once used to, 'ttebane."

Sakura nodded her head when suddenly there was a puff of smoke to their left. The two of them turned around, with them waving their hands to dissipate the smoke, only to find an orange and blue toad looking back up at the two of them.

'Jiraiya-sama's summons… although I don't know the name of this guy…' Sakura then shuddered slightly, 'Gods, toads are still disgusting, 'ttebane!.'

"Kushina-sama," the toad said turning towards the Redhead, "Jiraiya sent me ahead with a warning."

"What warning?" Kushina asked.

"Jiraiya's spy network has collapsed. Just before he sent me, he told me that he is being chased by the Uchiha traitor's minions and is unable to confirm if he will make it to Uzu."

"No," Sakura breathed in shock while Kushina's eyes were wide open in surprise.

"In the event he cannot, he sent me to warn you that the Uchiha has collected all nine tailed beasts." Sakura and Kushina looked at each other in surprise before looking back to the messenger toad, "he is massing his forces… including over five hundred thousand White Zetsu's in what remains of Konoha."

"That…." Kushina shook her head at the image of Obito using the ruins of their old home to launch an attack, "that bastard."

"How long?" Sakura asked, her heart beating hard in her chest.

"Obito has already sent an advance force… the ones chasing Jiraiya. And they should be here in a day at the speed that're going."

"They'll try to weaken our defences," Kushina said looking out at the whirlpools in the distance, "and then the main force with nine tailed beasts will attack."

"And Jiraiya still does not know how to distinguish between human shinobi, and any shinobi being impersonated by the white zetsu army," the toad explained, "and… and his final message before sending me was to have you and any other seal-master begin preparations for an all-out assault by the Zetsu's." Kushina nodded her head.

"The barrier jutsu will kill the ones that try to come through," Kushina mused, "but if the Zetsu's try to overwhelm us by sheer numbers…"

"They can break through," the toad said as Sakura looked down at the ground. She knew there wasn't much time left; this was do or die now. And she had no intention of dying, not yet.

"Thankfully the barrier has prevented Obito from using his space-time teleporting technique," Kushina whispered, "that's the only reason we survived for so long." Kushina then looked over at Sakura, "and soon, we'll have another reason."

Sakura's face turned red with embarrassment before she chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of her head.

Kushina chuckled before turning back towards the messenger Toad, "go, tell Fukusaku-sama that the toads need to try and reverse summon Jiraiya-sama."

"They have tried, but there is a jutsu in place that has been preventing any reverse summons," the toad said. Kushina nodded her head before asking the toad how far Jiraiya was from the advanced force chasing him.

The toad tilted his head while looking up towards the frowning Kushina. The toad guessed what she was about to ask, and so her relayed the next message as he thought about what Jiraiya had said just before being sent to Uzu.

'Kushina's a firecracker, she'll want to send someone to get me back to Uzu," Jiraiya had earlier said and then chuckled before continuing, "tell her it's too risky. She needs to spend what little time we have left preparing for war. Tell her that, okay?"

The toad nodded his head at Jiraiya before being sent over to Kushina, which is where the toad relayed the final part of the message, "he wants no rescue. It's too risky," the toad said to a scowling Kushina while Sakura looked on, "he said that the war will be here by tomorrow, and all of you should be prepared."

"Where. Is. That. Pervert," Kushina growled. The toad and Sakura could swear that Kushina's eyes were full of literal fire while she reached down and picked up the toad whose legs were flopping about in fear of the killing intent from the redhead, "talk!"

"North… North West that way," the toad stuttered, pointing towards the direction of the Land of Fire, as Kushina narrowed her eyes.

"How far away from the advanced force is he?"

"Three… three hours," the toad said before Kushina calmed down. The Toad Sannin was a perverted lecher, but there was no way she was letting the man who would have been Naruto's Godfather, and a man who was once Minato's Sensei die alone out there in the Land of Fire as he made his way to Uzu.

Kushina turned here scowl into a grin before cheerfully saying, "now was that so hard?" Sakura gave Kushina a deadpanned look as the Toad dropped to the ground before leaping away from the redhead who was now laughing while rubbing the back of her hair.

Sakura guessed what her sensei was thinking, and she hoped that she was ready for it. The first true long-range test of the Hiraishin was a success; she felt her chakra was steady, she did have some injuries but they were just scrapes and cuts… easily handled away. However, she was hungry. And just as Sakura thought about her hunger, her stomach growled. Kushina and the toad looked over at her before the pinkette sheepishly apologized. Kushina chuckled before turning back towards the Toad and said that they were bringing Jiraiya back to Uzu.

"My Ninja are ready," Kushina said before looking over at Sakura with a look of pride, "Jiraiya-sama's in for one hell of a surprise." The redhead smiled at Sakura before turning away and looking back at the toad, "we may need reinforcements though. Tell the other toads, especially Gamabunta, that we'll need oil and fire. A lot of oil and fire," Kushina said before the messenger toad vanished with a loud 'poof'.

Kushina then looked over at Sakura, "I'll inform Kiba and Hinata about the mission. Grab some lunch, and then rest up before you have to leave in an hour, 'ttebane." Sakura nodded her head when Kushina said, "I have faith in you, Sakura."

Kushina then shunshined away, leaving Sakura standing on the grass by herself. She then turned to look back at the beach before she sighed and then turned, with her back to the sea, and strode towards the buildings in the distance. She was exhausted, sweaty, dirty, and hungry… very hungry. But she had to relax before the mission; she needed to eat first before going back to her room and putting on the standard armour for all Uzu forces.

As she walked towards a small stall in the distance marked as one of the two branches of Ichiraku Ramen, Sakura rubbed her ears when she heard a buzzing sound. She could smell the scent of the soup and barbequed pork from the ramen stall, all well as the scent of cakes being baked, followed by so many other foodstuff as she took several more steps before she suddenly stopped upon hearing a voice.

"Sakura!"

Sakura turned around and scanned the area with her eyes for people who were nearby. The only people around were the ones eating at the ramen stall, and the other stalls next to it. There were people in the various three storey buildings in the distance, but they were too far away to account for the voice that just seemed to speak into her ears again.

"Sakura! It's me…. Can you hear me? It's your Inner!"

"I must be going crazy, 'ttebane," Sakura whispered shaking her head as she turned left and eyed the distant sushi shop, "Kurenai-sensei always did say that too much ramen was bad for a body. Maybe I've had too much ramen and now I'm hearing things. Yeah… that's got to be it, and…"

"You aren't crazy, dummy," the voice, calling itself Inner, yelled out from the back of her mind. The force of the yell had Sakura put her hands over her ears while she bent down, " Anyway, listen to me… I'm your Inner…. I've been with you ever since you were a child… I manifested after a bad incident when you were bullied at the Academy. Do you remem… oh no… of course you don't. That stupid hag… hell… she changed reality! Hold on, I had to hide our memories of… you know… our life before the white-out. Hold on…. Okay… hold on!"

"What are you talking about…." Sakura yelled out as she stood up. It was then she realized that she had screamed out words to herself, and was worried that people listening to her would think she was crazy. 'Maybe I am going crazy. Maybe I'm too stressed out… yeah… that's it… I'm too stressed out." Sakura was sweating bullets as she made her way towards a path that would get her past several building towards the residence of the head of the Uzumaki clan – Kushina's home.

All the while Sakura was thinking she was going crazy, she passed the sushi store when her stomach growled in hunger. She stopped, shook her head, and then ran back towards the shop. She was too hungry, she needed to eat something. As she was looking over the different type of Sushi items, the pink haired girl failed to notice the dark-haired boy with dark blue shirt and shinobi pants walking past her with a pink haired girl next to him. The girl had her hands behind her back as she leaned forward so that she could meet his eyes.

As Sakura picked up some Hamachi rolls and placed them into a container before she reached for some tuna belly, and then a bowl of edamame, and then some futomaki. She then closed the container in her hand before making her way to the cashier. As she made her way, Sakura walked past a blonde haired boy in a bright orange jacket. It was the jacket that caught her attention, and then she looked up to find herself looking into eyes of the deepest blue. She then noticed the three whisker marks and the wide grin as he rushed past her.

Sakura turned around, her eyes locked onto the boy as he rushed past, and was about to call out to the him when she stopped, and her eyes opened wide. She found herself not looking out the front window towards the distant blue coloured sea… instead she was standing on a bridge as she watched the blonde running towards a dark haired boy who, she had to admit was handsome as well, and then she caught sight of a girl in a red qipao dress who looked so much like her.

Sakura was breathing hard, her hands shaking at what she was seeing when her eyes went towards the blonde boy. She gulped as she thought about those deep blue eyes and smile, as if she had seen them before somewhere. She felt as if her stomach was doing flips as she hoped the boy, whoever he was, would turn around so that she could see his eyes and grin again. Sakura had to admit that the blonde was handsome, but there was something about him that was so familiar. She couldn't put her finger on it.

Sakura closed her eyes and shook her head, 'just the stress. That's all. And soon we''ll be at war… so yea… it's the stress. Just the stress, 'ttebane.' Opening her eyes again, Sakura once again was staring out at the distant sea before turning around to pay for the products in her hand.

Sakura's Mindscape.

The Inner Sakura was staring at a large metallic door that was covered in chains, and each chain had a padlock. Even on the door itself, there were locks on the left side. Inner Sakura frowned when she looked down at the keys in her hand before sighing as she looked back up at the locks on the chains and on the door.

'When I guessed what was going to happen with the hag, just before everything went all white-out on us after that Obito bastard killed Naruto when he was a baby,' Inner Sakura thought to herself without making her voice known to what she called 'Outer', 'I collected every memory we made and locked it securely away so that nothing would touch it. Except for me.'

'This was a failsafe, in case you ever got so badly hurt that you would lose your memories," Inner Sakura said as she started to unlock the chains, 'this will take some time. But you'll remember everything… even the memories we leant about Naruto's past and future.'

Inner Sakura wondered how her Outer would handle having three sets of memories; one being her original life in Konoha, the other being the memories she gained about Naruto's life, and then there were her new memories in this new life.

'I remember I was sleeping, and then something shook me awake,' the Inner Sakura thought to herself, 'maybe it was that jutsu you used. Whatever it is, we need to get back to our life… our original life somehow.'

Inner Sakura unlocked the fifth chain, the lock dropping on the floor as she thought, 'I wanna go home. I want to say sorry to Naruto. I want to… I want to just… I don't know what I want to do, but I wanna start by saying sorry to him.'

As she began unlocking the sixth chain, Inner Sakura thought, 'Let's find a way home, Outer.'

TBC