Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Chapter I

The streets were noisy as always. A certain smell lingered in the air, one of bad hygiene mixed with food. Beans mainly. I scrunch up my nose in distaste. Above us was a dark grey sky ready to pour on us
I don't have much time, I don't want to be soaking wet when I arrive.
My eyes when over the crowd of people before me. I can't remember the last time I heard silly banter about nothing and children yelling and playing carefree in the streets. The poverty was heart-wrenching to see and the fearful, hungry faces made it clear that we lived in a harsh, cold era of war.
Sometimes I'd let my mind wander and wonder if we'd ever be able to relive the past, if we could ever go back and put this all behind us.

I finally decide to move through the crowd so I can make my way to the hospital. I live just outside of the village. A dangerous choice scolded by many but I needed the peace that the outlands provided me.
I heard too much crying, screams of terror on my duty. I had hushed so many people that only silence could hush me.
For the moment we were having a brief period of truce. A fresh breath of air for many of us.
Yet it could not erase the fear that had seeped into our hearts, knowing that this so called truce was nothing more but another trick for both parties to reevaluate their strategies.
Sometimes I pondered who the enemy truly was. In my duty that line would always be a blur, as it was my job to take care of the wounded. Good or evil. Right or wrong. It made no difference.
Perhaps that was why I decide to become a medic because I knew I would never have to make that choice. I could never make the wrong decision. At least not morally that is.

I get a few nods and greetings along the way and I always give the same insecure smile back. Suddenly behind us we hear a loud blast. I anxiously turn around with wide eyes.
In the green mountains, far behind us, a dark black cloud appears. I hear some mumbling and hisses, some sound scared while others sounded angry. Openly outing their disapproval, claiming that our leader had yet again made a false promise of peace .
There were no further explosions after that meaning there was no battle of some sorts taking place. So it looked rather harmless…
'Probably a dud…' I mutter, trying to ease my rapidly beating heart.

Sadly people just resumed their normal day lives and no longer stared at dark ashy ominous cloud disappearing into the dark grey sky.
The truth is we've gotten used to it. Though I knew from my job each and every single one of them had a heartbeat just like mine right now, I knew everyone was just as frightened. We had all lost something by this point.
I had told many that there was no use to fret about it, that we could only try to keep ourselves and our loved ones out of harm way and keep our mind cool and our hearts strong…
As I'm about to move, I overhear some people talk.

'They have allied with them,' one mutters.
'How can you be so sure?' the old man snaps. 'You with the ANBU?' He snickers loudly but no one laughs. He smirk falls and his expression turns more serious.
'It's been too calm…' the other one replies, ignoring the old man's mocking tone.
'What do you mean? That was the first explosion in a week!' a young woman exclaimed.
'Not that,' the man answers with a sad look, shaking his head in disbelief. 'If there was any sign of true peace coming our way they'd have meetings, brag about their great truce in the papers! They just ran out of soldiers and are looking for allies… Both sides are!'
'And you think Kirigakure has finally decided to side with Otogakure?' the old man asked, this time I could hear his voice waver a bit.

Fear.

Though he kept a solid stern expression, his blue eyes could not conceal the feeling.

I too could feel my blood run cold. I had nagging feel about it as well, it had been too quiet these past few weeks and I too had picked up on some rumors.
Yes, while only mild occurrences had happened none of them gave of any true sign of peace coming our way. It had all still been too violent, too hateful. None of the men I had threated had spoken about missions to end this dreaded war. Not ever was there a word about peace said out loud.

I sigh, feeling a heavy weight land upon my entire body. Somehow my feet manage to keep moving.

The smell of ether hits my nostril when I enter the hospital. To some it is truly repulsing but to me it is a smell of that I find strangely delightful. It is an indication of cleanness. It's sharp and clear unlike so many other things in my life.

I keep walking while a bunch of files are given to me, I feel rush enter my body and the need to keep moving forward. Patients that are in desperate need of my help. I ignore the first few cases and see what is, how my mentor likes to call it, on the menu. Nothing new which saddens me because I would much rather not cut off any limbs today or stop internal bleedings.
I properly put the files back but the one in front, which I had ignored earlier, makes me halt.
'Urgent matter that is of great importance,' the nurse standing next to mutters underneath her breath to me.
I glance at her, quirking up an eyebrow. Now I understand her silence, normally she would chitchat about her morning since she would come in earlier then me.

I sigh when understanding what was going on.

Neither of us are big fans of politics since they were the ones to get us into this mess and this old man particularly… I shake my head. It was my sworn duty, my job! I had given an oath to help all beings. Even if it were the enemy I'd still do it, I would help him.

Heck, I think to myself, I had even truly done that. I had healed wounded soldiers back to health only for them to get tortured again in prison. And that was just to psychologically mess with them. I never understood how ANBU worked, it was such a dark, gritty organization that I didn't even bother to see into it, I wanted to stay as far away from them as I could.
Though, I still hated it when they wanted me to hand them over… I'd fight them all the way but never won. I had to lose patients, not knowing where their final fate would end up taking them. Presumably they were left to rot once they had outrun their use.
Now, one could say I had sympathy for the enemy but that is not true. Far from it. They are just people, doing their job. Following an order that has been given to them.

And of now, I was in charge of the health of one of the people giving orders to our troops.
A person I personally despised, I felt like he only wanted drag out our misery just so he could benefit a bit longer since his position would be dismissible once the war was over.

When seeing him on a picture he was nothing more than an elderly man. Almost harmless really.
However the influence he had over our Shinobi army was intimidating. My skin crawled at the thought of helping him. I read the problem on his casefile. Presumable case of severe tuberculosis.

'Blood results are still in the lab,' the nurse informed me. 'They had to take a detour and decided to seek out the nearest medic with a good reputation…' she said talking about the man and his personal group of soldiers.
'Me,' I sigh, kind of hating the title they had already given me. 'And what exactly do they want me to do?' I ask, not really knowing where this conversation was going.
'Remarkable heal him in a matter of seconds… Don't you know? He's very important, busy man!' she then sarcastically copies the voice who had said those exact words to her while rolling her eyes at the comment again.
'We're not,' I sarcastically answer with a smirk. 'We just, you know, take care of wounded, harmless, civilian people…'
'Yeah, children and stuff,' she spats, 'Those little rots that grow up to be our troops!'
A silence linger between us for a moment, the atmosphere felt a little electric to say the least. Obviously she was venting her anger the men who had so casually interfere our work and all because they deemed themselves more important than others.
'Antibiotics should do it, right?' She then slyly asks me, obviously hoping to get rid of him and his men soon.
'The right one should, yes,' I mutter back. 'I think we have some… Let's hope it immediately improves his health condition.'
'They want you to doublecheck,' she then says. I stare at her for a moment, not understanding what she meant by that.
'What do you mean?'
'Check his condition, check his blood, check everything!' Flashing me a fake smile, I realize that all of our staffs hard work meant nothing to them. I had to personally do everything.
'I see…'
'Doctor Hyuuga will be taken over most of your cases until you're finished,' she said while snatching a few files out of my hands.
'But I like to keep an eye out on—'Listen,' she snaps at me. 'I know you care deeply for your patients but they have wasted our time and used up important valuable equipment only to then informs us none of the results would matter if it wasn't tended by you personally.'
I sigh, already hating them as much as she did.
'Don't worry, Hyuuga will do a fine job as always and I will help him.'
She swiftly turned around and left. Her heels clicking along the way until they are nothing more than a distant echo.

I stare at the door, a huge white door were we'd keep our most important cases. Cases of life and death. Sick people that were in much need of our personal attention.
I had a feeling I wasn't going to like the old man much. I already hated him on paper.
I take deep breath and enter the room. The large room, fit for at least eight patients, was now only preoccupied by one.
I immediately click my tongue in disapproval, understanding that those very sick patients had been transported to another room, a presumably smaller more crowded one were they would be much less at ease.

Five ANBU-agents and a handful of Shinobi meet me halfway. They were taking up the entire room, while the old man was just lying in bed giving me a bored look.

Procedures, they had said. I've never been so disgracefully threated in my entire life. I unwillingly behaved to their orders.

Fixing my clothes and straightening my back I walk towards the man, informing him that our medic team was perfectly capable of analyzing him. He does not respond and ignores my words, simply looking me up from head to toe, as if I were some mere girl.
I start feeling annoyed and above all, I could feel my temper rise up. I try to calm myself down and ignore his rude stare.
Even when examining him myself, ANBU interfere, making sure I wouldn't harm the man.

I did have the need to put a scalpel in his heart… just to see if he had one.

He belittled me, showed clear disinterest in our work and found our entire team unfit.

If my mentor had not been the Hokage herself, they would have not come to me.
They did not deem me any better, they simply had no other choice since I was direct link to that other great medic our country knew. There was no sign of respect for me or my work. Or even the faculty of this hospital.

I eventually snapped.

'We are doing the best we can with the resources we have which after five years of war, is not great.'
I could feel the tension rise and hear the agents and personal guards hold their breaths at the remark, tensing up in result. For moment I pondered just what the hell they thought they could do, cut my tongue off for pointing out the truth?

'You think our great nation should just surrender?' he asked, his voice getting sharper. He no longer sounder weak and gruff like when he was answering my medical questions.
'Of course not,' I answer trying not to let in any sarcasm seep through. However I do flash him a fake smile. I bat my eyes only once, just so it could be mistaken for a blink but I was certain he did not see it that way. I was making myself very clear.

'I'm just stating that this small village and its hospital is doing its very best given the circumstances. I'm sure in the capital doesn't feel that way but here no one can deny to cost of the war. The roads are in bad condition! There hardly any nutritious food! And there is a fair amount of danger when trying to reach another village and get to safety. It is not so easy living here as it is where you are from...'
I can see him fuming. A cold expression, eyes that held no mercy. A creature that respected no one. Feared no one. Loved no one.

'Watch your mouth,' he then snaps at me. 'Just do your job!'
'As always,' I nod, readying to take a blood sample. I wanted to hurt him and stab the needle into his flesh but instead I did what I always did, a practically painless sting.

I wouldn't lower myself to his standards. I wouldn't take advantage of his weak, sick state.
Even though he probably did it to others all the time. Every layer of society suffered his reign.
The stories of I had heard of this man…
A cold shiver ran down my spine.

I try to make it quick and keep my mouth shut from now of on. The ANBU agents want the results of the blood samples back by noon, wanting to leave as quickly as possible. I informed them that the man is in need of plenty of rest and a journey is something I strongly oppose to.
Though I had told myself to stay quiet I do snidely remark that I assume to find the exact same results my colleagues would have found. They ignore the comment completely.

'There is a mansion in the middle of the village, I do believe it is for political visitors like you. I could personally visit there and keep your status—'No,' one of the agents cuts me off. His cold voice startles me.
When I look up, his face is covered by a white mask but I can see his empty brown eyes stare back at me.
'Unless you supervising is 24/7, we are not leaving this building.'
I slightly gape at the man, feeling myself getting angry again. 'I'm not leaving this hospital for an unknown amount of time to housesit! I have other patients to tend.'
'Then we are not leaving this room and you will be at our command any given time. You do understand that this man is a great leader to our nation? That he is of great importance to not only our army but to you as well? Or would you like to fall into the hands of the enemy? Though I'm sure the leader of Otogakure is more than interesting in a prodigy like you…' He eyed my from head to toe just like his superior. 'A personally hit to the Hokage by having her student would be sheer delight.'

I chewed on the inside of my cheek, trying to hold my anger back.

'However I'm certain just like our Hokage, that you indeed will always be forever loyal to the Great Fire Nation.' I could hear him snicker from behind his mask. I wasn't certain where he was going with this.
'I'm sure you'd fight him tooth and nail, just like you always do with whoever you disagree with.'
I'm silenced by his insinuation and harsh tone. A part of me wants to defy him, saying yes, I'd much rather serve another man then him and your pathetic group of socially superiors but I keep my mouth shut. So he doesn't trust me. I don't need his trust.
But I do know what he's talking about. I had fought tooth and nail for patients, to keep them out of their hands. I guess rumor was that maybe I wasn't as loyal as the Hokage claimed I was.

But one thing is for sure, I'm too good at my job. People have no other choice but to come to me.
Much like this man that was so far above me, I was their best option and I had never mistreated a patient or hurt a harmless soul. I wasn't planning on ever changing that. No matter how hard I had to fight the urge.

I got up from my chair and decided to ignore the conversation that had just taken place. The quicker this man left, the better. However I couldn't be less strict about protocol. If this guy died during their journey home, I would be the one to blame. It would be my head they'd have because that would mean I had made the wrong diagnoses. Or worse, intentionally harmed the man.
I suddenly was aware that I had just jeopardize my reputation and that of the hospital.
One mistake and we would get the blame. This ANBU-agent… I did need his trust.

'I'll be back with the results as quickly as I can,' I simply stated on a neutral tone. 'In the meantime, you should rest,' I tell the old man. 'No matter what, that it is still one of the best medicines.'
The man seemed to have calmed down and simply nodded at me. The agent doesn't say a word.

I don't make any unnecessary conversation and leave the room at a normal pace, though, my entire body is begging me to start running. I could feel their eyes burn into my back.

As I close the door behind me, I let out a heavy sigh. I was already feeling tired and it wasn't even ten yet.

'Ah, I assume he is quite the patient to have?' a voice asks.

I look to the side and see a man dressed in formal wear. He too is escorted by guards and I instantly straighten up.
'I-uh,' I start to mumble. Not having an idea on how to get myself out of this. He was obviously a colleague of the Councilor.
'No worries, I know how he can get,' he gives me wide smile, as to the secure me that my secret was save with him.
I only give him small smile in return, just wanting to get beyond the moment and forget it had ever occurred.
'My name is Inui, nice to meet you, Dr. Haruno,' he bowed his head to me in respect.
I think he the first one to actually call me doctor today. I frown a little before realizing I haven't returned the gesture. I slightly bow my head. 'Nice to meet you,' I mutter.
'I am the Councilor's right hand. One day I hope to achieve just as much as him. It is he, after all, who is guiding us to victory.'
I don't respond simply because I don't know how. Do these people even know what war means?
'But I swear he becomes nicer once you get to know him,' he then says to break the uncomfortable silence.
'Oh, the Councilor? I'm sure he does.' Not, I venomously add in my head. I then take in the man before me. He's older than me but still quite young to already be a part of the council. I can tell he's intelligent and charming. Straight posture, respectful and alert to his surroundings.
'I know we are forcing you to work overtime and pressing you in results but we have little time. It is of the essence that we leave as quickly as we can. So if there is anything at all, feel free to talk to me, doctor.'
'I will but there is nothing to talk about,' I simply say. 'I don't have the results yet.'
'Of course.' He again bows his head. His clear blue eyes meet mine and for a moment I'm stunned. I can feel a blush creep over my cheeks.
Now is not the time, Sakura.
'Excuse me but I have work to do…' I utter while noticing my voice is sounding a bit shaky.
Composure, Sakura…
'Yes, we will no longer uphold you,' he says politely and moves out of the way.
Again my pace was quite slow compared to how fast my heart was beating but somehow I managed to get to the lab like a normal person.

I let out a yawn and then lazily stretch myself out. I felt like I had just worked two shifts instead of one. I peer out the window and noticed then sun had already gone under.
'So, you think he'll leave anytime soon?'
The nurse from this morning was sitting on a chair, tending a wound on young boys arm. Today there had been another explosion, this time it had occurred just outside of the village.
Little information had been given on what had happened but a few civilians ended up getting hurt. Mostly children.
We had been working around the clock to take care of them. Now we were dealing with the less severe injured. Mostly second degree burns and a few were in need of stiches as well.
'I hope so,' I mutter to her while taking care of an old man's burn wounds on his stomach.
'But for good measure he should stay for another two weeks… just to be safe.'
She stays quiet for a moment. 'You think there is connection?' she then warily asks.
I stay quiet for a moment before being caught in the old man's eyes. I could tell what he was thinking.

'Definitely.'

Two attacks in one day and it would have nothing to do with the visit of the old man?
I started to get to thinking, wondering if I should get worried about the hospital and the civilians. I know this man nor any of his men are worried about us. We are just nuisance. None of them showed any concern when we got called in for an emergency.
Heck, they even noted I should come and check on him within the next hour.
I had of course not done that. A man's life was at stake and they wanted me to check if the old man was alright after he had taken his medicine?
He had made it all the way here, I'm sure he could handle a few more hours. Besides he was doing quite fine. Ill weeds grow apace.

I was sipping a bit of coffee to keep myself awake. I wanted to go home and take a nap but I had to stick around a bit longer until that one patient was stable. I heard coughing and whining and whished it would affect me as much as it used to do but I've grown accustomed to hearing sick and hurt people.
Sometimes I couldn't do much more but stand around and wait.

'I'm sorry little boy but my hands are tied right now… Haruno, could you help this boy?' the nurse called me out to the large room.
The lights were dim. I saw young boy not older then eleven look up at me. He seemed fine. A bit pale perhaps.
'Are you alright?' I ask confused.
'I have pain in my back…' he mutters while shyly looking away from the nurse who is shrugging her shoulders. At first glance he seemed alright.
'Come, I'll have a look at it…' I simply say trying to ease him. Noticing he that he is quite uncomfortable here, I guide him to a small room shielded from the infirmary. It's a little more private there.

'Take a seat,' I tell him when he stands still at the door opening. I couldn't tell if he was being very polite or just extremely shy.
'It's alright, tell me what is wrong. Whatever it is I'm sure we can help you…'
His brown eyes oddly stare at me but he obeys and sits on the chair in front of me. He takes off his cloak and slightly turns around, revealing a bloodstain. I gasp a little.
'It hurts when I move to the left…' he mutters to me. I lift his shirt up.
'You have tiny stake of wood and some splinters in there. We need to take care of this quickly! You've been walking around all day like this?' I ask him wondering how such a small child could stand such a gruesome pain.
'I didn't want to… the men who were there with the porcelain masks are here too.'
I turn around swiftly, still holding the ether in my hand. 'Excuse me?'
'They were the ones who did it… I think they were after a man!'
'You mean you were caught in that explosion? That's how you got this wound?'
He nodded at my questions.
I quirk up an eyebrow. 'Why didn't you come earlier?'
'I was scared,' he simply answered. He lowered his gaze. 'I didn't want to get into trouble…'
I take a good look at him now and see how poverty clothed he is. Another child of war. I've seen their pain and distress over and over. The last five years of his young life had been one of fear, pain and emotional hurt. I decided to drop the hard questions. I understood it all without a explanation.
He wasn't from around here and he indeed could get into trouble with the old man around.
'Don't worry, I didn't see you…' I smile at him. He immediately gave me a grateful smile back.
Bowing his head then deeply to me, 'Thank you, Dr. Haruno.'

He must've been in pain all day, the poor thing. I hate torturing him with a pincer but all the splinters needed to get removed to avoid infection. 'Sorry,' I mutter when noticing him flinch.
'It's alright…' he simply says withstanding the pain bravely. We don't talk a lot but he does tell me he's from a very distant village, traveling to his aunt who lives in a presumably saver area. He still got a long way to go.
I'm finally done and finish the cleaning progress with ether, which stings quite a lot, but he keeps up brave appearance and hardly reacts. I then finally wrap a bandage on his back, soothing the open wound.
I can feel him relax underneath my palms. 'All done,' I say with a smile.
'Dr. Haruno…' he started shyly, obviously not knowing how to start the next subject.
'It's alright,' I say, already knowing what he was about ask. 'Your consultation is free… no charge, so don't worry.'
'No,' he says shaking his head. 'That's not it… My friend… he's been wounded too.'
'Oh?' I get struck by worry and tense up. 'Is he ok? Where is he?'
'He's resting nearby but we can't come out to the hospital because... as foreigners we already look suspicious and well, he's… older. As I child I look more harmless and he said my health was more important but… well, he said he'd be fine but I can tell he's in pain.'
'What type of pain?' I ask.
'Kind of the same I was in… He got hurt in his leg.'
'He got struck by wood? Then he needs to come in and let his wound get cleaned out or else—'no,' he cuts me off. 'He didn't get hurt by wood… I think a lost kunai hit him. He didn't show me but I've never seen him in so much pain before… and there was so much blood.'
'A lost kunai?' I ask not believing what I was hearing. Did these ANBU have no protocol?
'I think so,' he again shyly lowers his head. His long bangs hiding his pale face.
'I have painkiller that can be used on any sort of wound, just tell him to drink plenty of water. He might get a bit drowsy. Excessive sleeping is a side effect so don't get alarmed, ok?'
He nods while giving me another grateful smile.
He's quite charming because I can feel myself return one without thought. Something about him warms my heart.
'Don't go out anytime soon, okay?' I whisper. 'Stay low for a while, the rest of the village will help you out too so don't worry.'
He accepts the drugs and quickly nods. I can sense the fear that was building up inside of him.
'If anything goes wrong, you can always contact me. I'm mostly at the hospital.'
'If not?' he then asks quickly.
'You've seen that lone house on the hill to the south? That is my home, contact me there but be careful, I'm pretty sure those agent will be following me around!
'Why? Did you do something wrong?'
Ah, the concern of an innocent child.
'No, there is a man and… well, he's just very important and I am his doctor if anything goes wrong… it will be my fault.'
He quietly thinks about it before nodding understandingly.
'Thank you for everything, dr. Haruno!' He bows deeply again and shakes my hand several times.
'It's alright,' I say, placing a hand on his. 'I hope all goes well for you and your friend.'
'I hope to one day repay you for your kindness.'
I smile at him again.
'Goodnight, Dr. Haruno.'
'Goodnight…' I then realize I haven't even asked him his name. 'Wait!' I say halting him. 'What's your name?'
He shyly looks down at the ground, as if people rarely asked him that question.
'Haku.'

I believed I made the promise of writing more fanfiction for this pairing so I finally decided to write out an idea that had been in my head for a very long time.
Here by chapter one is done! I have yet to write the next chapter but in the meantime, please let me know if you like it so far by leaving a comment/review. I would like to hear your opinion and thoughts on the story!

NOTE: Though I've decided to keep the Shinobi-world, chakra will NOT be a part of it. ALSO, I did say this was an alternative universe, meaning I'm messing with time and space and characters and pretty much everything else! Sakura is not resided in Konohagakure and is in her late twenties. That is all you need to know for now.

Comment/review!