I don't own Naruto.
"These days tired isn't even a temporary state for me anymore. Its become part of my personality."
Unknown
Sakura woke up and... realized she wasn't aching anywhere. In fact she felt amazingly refreshed.
Now, usually she'd embrace this as well-needed change, being on the run gave you no time to relax, but the fact remained that she'd nearly been crushed by Sasuke's Susanoo.
Sasuke. That ass-hole. She wanted to wring his neck every time she thought about him. An obviously large change from their a gennin days.
Ah, well. She needed to find out where she was first and then find Naruto.
Sakura opened her eyes but instead of seeing trees she was greeted by pink. Everywhere. She was in an oddly familiar bedroom. Actually, this looked disturbingly like her childhood bedroom. The one she'd had before she moved out to her own apartment.
What in the hell?
Perhaps Sasuke had pulled her into his Tsukuyomi and was trying to torture her. Though she had no idea how putting her in her old childhood bedroom and making her feel as if she'd waken up from three week nap was torturing.
No, the theory didn't make sense. Sasuke didn't know what her bedroom had looked like. And even if he did the Tsukuyomi couldn't have made the illusion this detailed, especially since he had never been in her room (much to the disappointment of her younger self).
Something else was going on.
Realizing she had been lying on the bed with her eyes wide open like some sort fool, Sakura sat up to get out of bed. And promptly fell down. She frowned. It felt like her balance was off.
Standing up again, more slowly this time, she reached up to push a strand of her long hair behind her ear.
Wait. Long hair? She'd cut her hair short during the chunnin exams and had kept it that way since.
Looking down at herself, she gaped.
Where the fuck where her breasts?! She had always been slender and petite (at least in her description. Ino sometimes described her as flat and short, an opinion she wholeheartedly disagreed with) but not this small.
No wonder her balance was off. Her whole body was off. She was shorter and smaller than what she was used to.
"Sakura!"
She startled, the yell pulling out of her shock. Only to further increase her it. The voice was her mother's. Her mother who had died in the first invasion. Her mother whose funeral she had planned and attended.
"Sakura? Come downstairs already. You have school in fifteen minutes!"
School!? Was she really younger again?
Sakura tried to recollect the moments after she had been captured by Sasuke. Because the Susanoo's hand was squeezing her, her observations of her surrounding area had been vague and unfocused. But she remembered Naruto getting up and that the Kyuubi's chakra had been flickering in and out of her field of vision.
He had ordered her to change everything.
And before that!
When she had been carrying him on her back, he had muttered on about doing something and he had said I'm going to send you back. I want you to change everything. But she'd thought he had been hallucinating since he had lost a lot of blood.
Was this what he had meant? Had Naruto somehow managed to send her back in time?
All the clues pointed at that conclusion but she couldn't be sure. Sakura had sinking feeling that Sasuke was mixed in the situation some way. She couldn't do anything without further basis on where and when she was so she would act as the current time period she was in dictated. From what she could tell she was twelve again. Her old red quipao dress were hanging of her doorknob courtesy of her mother.
Sakura wrinkled her nose in distaste. She needed to find a new outfit quick. Her tastes had been odd back then.
After trying to get up again and failing, Sakura decided that to day she'd stay in. This way she could reconnaissance to find out exactly when she was. If that made any sense.
Crawling back onto her bed, she waited for her mother to come check up on her.
Five minutes later a knock sounded on her door, her mother opening it enough to poke her head in.
"Sakura? Are you alright?" Sakura inwardly winced. The last time she had seen her mother, the woman had been deathly still, no longer the strong, vibrant woman Sakura had known her to be.
The pink-haired girl shook her head to get rid of the morbid thoughts. That didn't matter now, Naruto had given them another chance and this time she wouldn't let her mother or anyone else die prematurely.
Mebuki, believing the head-shake was the answer to her question, opened the door wider and walked in with a worried expression on her face. Placing her hand on Sakura's head, she frowned.
"You do feel rather hot."
Sakura hid her smile. It seemed childish but she missed the feeling of being pampered like this.
Her smile disappeared as soon as Mebuki left the room and came back with an armload of blankets.
Tucking Sakura in so firmly that she could only move her feet, Mebuki stood up and informed the woman turned child that she would be going to work and would be back at her regular time and that under no circumstances was Sakura allowed to leave the house. Then the slightly older woman promptly left the room to get ready for work.
Waiting for her mother to leave, Sakura began to feel warm and drowsy from the amount of blankets covering her. She soon fell into an uneasy sleep.
(^_^) (^_^) (^_^) (^_^) (^_^) (^_^)
Waking up hours later, Sakura struggled out of her cocoon of blankets she was wrapped in.
Feeling more comfortable with the younger version of her body that she was now in, she carefully made her way to the kitchen. Everything in the house was as she'd remembered.
The entire situation was surreal.
Sakura decided that she needed to check on her skills. She needed to assess what level she was at now so that she could improve even quicker. Grabbing a glass of water and an apple, she headed back to her room.
Stretching to warm up her muscles, the young girl began to form basic Taijutsu katas. To her horror her body had begun to tire after only two hours. She knew she had greatly lacking in the physical department at this age but this was absolutely horrifying.
How had she even survived to make it past gennin? She should have been a bloody smear on the ground at the tender age of twelve.
Giving up on assessing her meager physical skills, Sakura sat down in lotus position and began concentrating on her chakra. When she had been young she had had amazing control but a pitifully small chakra level so she expected a lot of hours put in to improving in this particular area as well. To her astonishment her chakra felt the same as it did before she had been sent careening through time. She didn't even need to further probe her chakra.
The level was Jounin maybe advanced Jounin. She smiled broadly. Hah! That was one aspect she didn't need to worry about. What a relief!
Though, it was odd that she kept her old chakra levels. Had Naruto done this on purpose?
Now that she had a clearer head, she suspected that he had used a seal that they had found years ago in the ruins of the Whirlpool country. There was no other explanation.
The seal was described itself as a time-travel seal but because of its vague, sketchy, and highly complicated details and because it required a large, inhumane amount of chakra, she had dismissed it as unusable and risky. Naruto had agreed but had kept the scroll in case it fell into the wrong hands.
He had been the sealing master after Jiraiya so the complicated sealing jargon had made sense to him in a way it couldn't for Sakura, who had only the basics of sealing down.
Naruto must have used the last of his chakra and the Kyuubi's chakra on the seal.
Her heart clenched at the fate of her best friend. Sakura wouldn't let anything happen to him in this time-line. Sai and Kakashi as well.
This time she would be the one to take care of her boys.
Sakura shook her head to clear the thoughts. She'd have time to plan later, first she had make sure if she really was in the past.
She did believe she it to be true, but as a ninja she had been trained to always make sure her facts were correct. The chakra situation was good. Now she could rest her doubts about her location.
Standing up, she went to grab a large sweater from the back of her closet and a small backpack with the little ninja supplies her twelve year-old self had possessed, She'd need the sweater for where she was going. The climate was rather cold for humans, most likely because of the high altitude.
During the few years she had been on the run with Naruto, she had come upon the summoning contract for Bird Summons and had signed it. She had made many good friends and was determined to rekindle the friendships. And she needed a certain old geezer's input on her situation
Sakura obviously wasn't contracted to them yet, but when she formed the hand signs for a summoning she would be transported there because when a person formed a summoning hand signs for an animal that they weren't contracted to, they would be summoned to said animal's kingdom instead.
She stood at the center of her room and performed the hand signs: Boar, Dog, Bird, Monkey, Ram!
The floor of her bedroom disappeared and Sakura fell. The wind rushed by her, blinding her slightly. There seemed to be no bottom in sight.
Suddenly, she abruptly stopped free-falling, giant claws grabbing her shoulders. Sakura was carried away, seemingly to the west.
She was unworried about the Bird carrying her, it was most likely one of the sentry guards that flew around the kingdom.
Soon large, floating islands were peeking out from the clouds. Each island appeared to be large, green and flattened at the top. Sakura knew that many nests resided on each island. Each Island belonged to a Bird tribe. There were six tribes in total. The Rocs, Owls, Ravens, Hawks, Phoenixes and the Eagles.
The island nests surrounded an even larger island in a circle. The Main Land, Sakura knew, was called Al-Reeh. It was where the King and Queen lived and also were meetings were held.
The King and Queen were not in any tribe because their job was to keep peace between the tribes. Anytime a King or Queen were chosen, they would be forced to renounce their original clan and become clan-less.
In other words because the tribes often argued amongst themselves like squabbling children the king and queen were forced to act like the "parents".
The Bird carrying her neared the ring of floating islands, then flew right past them, towards Al-Reeh.
Dropping her down near the edge of the island where the entry gate was, the Bird landed next to her changing into its human form.
A tall bearded man stood in front of Sakura. She frowned. He looked awfully familiar.
"You know you kind of look like Tsubasa." He stiffened.
"How do you know of my brother, human?"
"Brother? Oh! You must be Tobu! Wow! I didn't expect to see you here! And don't worry, I'll explain everything as soon as I see Tsubasa and Hikari-chan."
The man looked at her as if she was crazy.
She inwardly grinned. Tobu was as fun to annoy as his brother was.
He glared at her. "Speak up now girl. You are in our lands. Anything can happen to you here." He grinned bloodthirstily. "and no-one would know."
"Ah, but what if I have vital information to tell you? What will happen then? And I won't speak until I see Tsubasa and Hikari-chan."
The man towered over her. "How did you come to address the King and Queen so familiarly?"
"Oh, we're good friends. Or at least we were. Will be. Argh! Stupid time travel tenses! Just take me to to the glade. I promise I'll explain everything."
"Human! you have no right to command me. I can tear you to pieces easily. I advise you to speak soon."
Sakura remembered that because she had been a treasured friend to the Birds in the future, she had been given the mark of Saheeb. The mark indicated that she was friend to all the Birds. It was tied to the receiver's chakra and would never fade. If the friendship was betrayed, the mark would darken.
To Bird-man's astonishment, Sakura pulled at her large sweater to check on her shoulder.
"What are you doing, gir- Thats impossible! How can you bear the mark of Saheeb?" He said this in such an incredulous tone that Sakura was offended.
"Excuse me! What exactly is wrong with me?!" He sputtered incoherently.
Sakura rolled her eyes.
"Never mind we're wasting time. You've seen that the mark hasn't darkened, proving that I am not an enemy, so take me to Tsubasa, please."
He turned without a word, motioning for her to follow him.
The pair passed through the entry gates, heading toward the middle of the island. They soon neared the gathering area. It seemed like, Tobu had already sent ahead the news. Either that or Myoga was behind this. Knowing him, he probably knew why she was here. Hell, he probably knew that she'd come here before she knew.
She shook her head ruefully. Sakura had missed the old Bird-man and his mischievous personality. The seer had wormed his way into her heart with his grandfatherly personality and sense of humor. He was easily someone she could get along with. It helped that he was the main advisor and held a great deal of authority as well.
She and Tobu entered the large arena. The place was an intimidating sight. The arena was a large plain surrounded by huge trees. Birds flocked the branches, surrounding her, whispering and talking amongst each other. It didn't help that many of the Birds were amazingly large. Much larger than a normal bird.
If she hadn't already gone through this when she had first signed the Bird summoning contract, she would have been pissing her pants by now.
An extraordinary large snowy Owl stood directly in front of her with smaller barn Owl next to him.
She grinned and pulled a Naruto-esque move."Hey Tsubasa, Hikari-chan! How are you guys?"
Once upon a time, she would have been much more formal and polite but Naruto had definitely rubbed off on her. That and she secretly loved the stir she was causing among the Birds. They were all nosy busybodies.
As Sakura had spoken, The Birds had fallen into a stunned silence, most likely at her casual address of the King and Queen. And as soon as she had finished, they had burst into a cacophony of loud whispers and ruffling feathers, whispering amongst themselves.
She could tell that the King and Queen were surprised as well though they did a better job of hiding it.
"Silence!" Tsubasa's loud, commanding voice impressively silenced everyone at once.
He then turned his head toward her. "How do you know of our names, child? You speak as if you know us and my brother tells me you bear the mark of Saheeb."
Sakura was sure that the Birds would have started talking again if not for the firm glare Tobu had given the crowd.
"Well, its because I do know at least I did or will know you."
She was met with blank unamused stares.
A deadly looking Bird with only one eye and a large scar across his face, spoke harshly. "She plays tricks on us, thinking to deceive us! I say we kill her and save ourselves the trouble."
Considering the amount of agreements the other Birds made, Sakura decided it would be best to ask for Myoga.
"Tsubasa, Myoga can explain everything. Because I'm not the best at explaining a situatioon as confusing as this."
The large Owl stared at her with large, golden, unblinking eyes. "Very, well. Toru. Call for Myoga."
A large Hawk flew off standing behind the king. Sakura startled. She hadn't seen him. Damn, she was off her game. What kind of ninja wouldn't notice him?
As Sakura waited, she noticed the smaller barn Owl, seemed to be fidgeting, her feathers ruffling impatiently. Sakura grinned, knowing Hikari she was extremely curious about the newcomer who claimed she knew her. Hikari didn't have the same patience Tsubasa had.
Gasps and murmurs erupted amongst the Birds when Toru arrived with a familiar old wise Owl in tow.
Sakura knew it was due to the fact that the old Bird was flying.
Hmph. The old geezer had probably seen a vision of her giving him the recipe for a healing salve to fix his wings in the other timeline. Of course she was the only one who knew this.
The landed in the arena between Sakura and the King and Queen.
She waved. "Hey Myoga! How are you?"
Right on cue he replied, "I'm doing great, little Sakura. And I have to say, that poultice you recommended or rather had recommended, has done wonders for the old wings."
Her grin widened at the astonished looks on the Birds faces. They sure hadn't seen this familiar greeting coming.
"Do you know the girl, Myoga?"
"Of course, your Majesty. She is good friend from the past. Or rather the future. Both actually."
The old Owl spoke the sentence as if it made perfect sense. Sakura knew he just enjoyed confusing others and increasing the rumors that he was mad.
"Speak clearly, Myoga. We have no patience for this. The girl bears the Mark of Saheeb, a mark that can only be given by the king. And I do not remember seeing this girl."
Before Myoga could open his beak, Sakura stepped in. "I'm from the future. At least I think so."
"You are, dear girl. Your friend sent you here purposely." Myoga assured her.
"Good, I wasn't sure if Sasuke 's sharingan was involved and I was in some kind of amazingly detailed illusion or not."
The King ruffled his feathers impatiently. "Explain, Myoga."
"My mother is coming home soon, so I'll leave you to explain things, Myoga." Sakura grabbed the backpack she had thrown down on the ground earlier.
Tsubasa turned his toward her. "You will go nowhere until your presence has been explained."
"Do not worry, old friend. She means no harm and is a great asset to our people."
"Myoga-."
"Tsubasa. I have seen her and I know her heart. Leave her be. You will receive your answers in due time."
The King paused. "Very well."
"Good. And Sakura before you end up somewhere else, here."
Myoga threw the summoning contract for the Birds.
Ignoring the horrified whispering of the Birds (they'd get over it after Myoga explained everything), she caught it then deftly signed it with her blood before sealing it away.
"Thanks, Myoga." Forming the hand-signs required, she appeared back in her room.
Putting the large sweater back in her closet, she placed the glass of water in the kitchen and crawled back into bed.
Sakura had a long day ahead of her tomorrow and she didn't have to worry about being caught in a genjutsu.
She went to sleep with a smile on her face.
(^_^) (^_^) (^_^) (^_^) (^_^) (^_^)
I am really really sorry for those few who have showed interest in my pathetic story. Like I said on my profile, I update sporadically and I haven't had time to write anything for while. This means I winged this chapter. I just rushed. I have the general idea of what I want from this story but this particular chapter was written messily.
Being the lazy-ass I am, I decided to update it anyway.
Please tell me what you think of it.
R&R
Thanks,
ShaSha
