Prologue
As the seconds ticked by, and her chakra ran dry, Sakura knew she only had minutes to live. Hot blood ran from her stomach, chakra struggling to stitch together the gaping wound. She could hear the crashing of leaves behind her, her assailant closing the gap. Even as her end drew nearer, the little bundle in her arms was all that was keeping her from giving up.
"I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, Sarada." She whispered to the tuft of black hair peeking from the blanket. The baby in her arms slept on in an herbal induced haze.
It would shave precious seconds from her life, but it was the only way. Sakura cut off the healing chakra from her stomach, briefly forming the hand sign for a genjutsu. The web spun itself in front of her and as she leapt through, she could feel the tingle of it across her skin. Moments later, she could hear the hurried footsteps of her assailant shift, turning to follow her shadow self to the West.
With the last of her chakra spent, she pressed on to the village ahead. Sasuke and she had visited but a day ago, responding to a request for a healer. It was a little old lady, her husband dying of pneumonia. Sakura had done what she could for the man, but he was beyond help. She took away his pain as he slipped from this world. His wife was heartbroken, but grateful nonetheless offering the bulk of her savings to pay Sakura for her help. Her heart ached for the woman, who had just lost her world, and refused to accept a single dime, much to Sasuke's annoyance. The woman promised she would do anything for her, if she should come calling to the small town once again.
Little did they know, she would come calling so soon.
Through the dirty streets of the poor fishing village, she hurried until the little shack sprung up in front of her. Without knocking, she threw the door open, locating the small bed where the widow slept, where her husband had died, immediately.
"Kaede-san!" She yelled. The woman bolted up in bed with a shout. Trembling, she reached to the empty spot beside her for her husband that wasn't there.
"Kaede-san, it's me, Sakura." She rushed out. The old ladies sharp blue eyes lit up with recognition. They darted from Sakura's face to the bundle in her arms. "You have to help me. I don't have much time."
The woman face went dead serious, and without hesitation she nodded, "Whatever you need, child."
"Take her," She held out the bundle, her most precious possession in the world, her young daughter. "Keep her safe. Give her to no one, not even the man I was here with the other day. Not even myself. If anyone asks, I was never here."
Kaede gently took the baby into her arms. "Of course."
A watery smile on her face, Sakura looked for the last time at her daughter, "I won't make it back. I can lead them away from this place, but I won't survive."
"I will love her as if she were my own," Kaede assured Sakura, her face as sincere as it was morbidly serious.
With a sharp breath, Sakura met Kaede's eyes. "Thank you." There was no way for her to convey how grateful she was. She dashed to the door, pausing for one moment to steal one last look at her baby girl.
"Trust no one," She muttered, ghosting from the doorway and into the night.
