Age 17
"Sakura-sama! Orders, what are your orders?!" One of the nurses asked desperately. Sakura's brow narrowed in concentration. This was a new poison. And whatever it was, it worked fast. It was paralyzing the nerves and invading the organs- Did they have time to even extract it?
"Sakura-sama!"
"For now, Nao regulate his heartbeat; not too fast to slow the poison, but it better not stop at any point. Sena, I need you to bring me the liquid T-24 in the lab in a bowl. I will start by extracting the poison so it doesn't reach the brain. Nao, I want you to give me a heads up if the poison is getting to close to his heart. The rest of you, get to the others and heal major wounds. If you sense traces of poison, slow its process as much as you can. And someone get me Shizune!" Sakura said quickly.
"Hai," the staff echoed.
Sakura gritted her teeth as she let her chakra permeate through the man's head. The barest hints of poison were making its way up. She didn't have time to wait for the medium. She took a deep breath before she coaxed her chakra to coat the poison. With her other hand, she created a chakra scalpel to nick the side of the man's throat. Ever so carefully, she drew it out, and there were sounds of chock as a thing stream of black liquid trailed out.
Someone rushed over with an empty bowl which Sakura dumped the poison into. Next was around the heart.
Sakura made another nick on the man's chest, and she began searching and coating every bit of the toxin she could find, extracting it with some difficulty.
The arms, and the legs were finished within the next five minutes.
"Sakura-sama! Poison in this one as well!"
"This one too!"
Sakura swore.
"Sakura-sama! I brought the liquid!"
"Sakura-sama! This man needs help!"
"Sakura-sama, if we don't something soon, the man will-!"
"Sakura-sama!"
"Sakura-sama!"
"SILENCE!" Sakura snapped. The rest fell quiet at the harsh reprimand. She took a brief moment to take a quick breath before she moved to stand between the two remaining patients.
"Sena, come here." The nurse scurried forward nervously, extending the bowl full of liquid tinted green. Sakura put her hands above the liquid and brought the entire thing out of the bowl in one large blob. Sakura took another breath as she split the liquid into two sections, one hovering near her right hand and one near her left. Then she slowly forced the liquid into the men on either side of her.
"Sakura...sama?"
Sakura closed her eyes, keeping both sides steady. She had yet to try this in an actual operation, but it was now or never. If the body she had worked on just now was any indication, she would have to work fast if the shinobi were to keep all their limbs functioning. Her right hand extracted poison one from one man, and the left hand extracted poison from the other. She blocked out the unnecessary noises and threw herself into feeling. The blood cells, the veins. The thin bundle of nerves. The muscles. Honing in on the toxin starting from the brain and the heart, then into the rest of the body. Wrapping it, then bringing it out.
The unoccupied staff watched as a dark cloud of inky blackness began seeping out of the patients, entrapped in the liquid. There was complete silence as the more and more exited the two bodies.
As she began isolating the last of the toxin, Sakura allowed herself to open a bleary eye. Her brow arched at the staff, staring back at her frozen.
"Why are you all just standing there? Shouldn't you all be healing whatever damage was left?"
"Right!"
Age 4
"Tou-san!" The small girl leapt towards her father as he walked in through the door. "W'lcome back!"
"Sakura-chan, my precious little flower. Daddy's glad to see you to." Kizashi said, returning the hug.
"Tou-san, Tou-san, look!" Sakura said, pulling away and tugging the man towards the living room. In a box, cushioned with a small blanket, was a small bird loosely wrapped in bandages.
"I found bird at the park! I brought it and healed it, see! I was very careful like you said to be, Tou-san, and I put a bandage on its boo-boo. I did good, right?" The small girl said eagerly. The man smiled softly.
"That you did, sweetie. You're as kind as your mother was."
Sakura puffed her chest.
Kizashi knelt next to the box, inspecting the bird.
"..." Kizashi stood up. "Come now, it's time for bed."
"Aww... You just got back from work, Tou-san. Can't we play?"
"Sweetie, Tou-san is very tired. We'll play on my day off, okay?" Kizashi compromised. Sakura pouted but nodded and let herself be carried to her room by her father
"You ate the dinner I prepared, right?"
"Yep!"
"You washed up?"
"Yep!"
"And you brushed your teeth, right?"
"Yep, yep, yep!" Sakura cheered.
"Just to make sure, say 'ah'."
"Ah!" Kizashi took a quick sniff.
"Ara? Seems like Sakura-chan really did brush her teeth." Kizashi said, feigning an expression of surprise.
"I said I did!"
"Alright, then it's time for this little flower to go to sleep then," Kizashi said as he dropped her onto the bed. Sakura giggled as her father placed her teddy bear in her arms and tucked her in.
"Sweet dreams, my little flower."
"Sweet dreams, Tou-san," Sakura echoed. Kizashi ruffled her hair and left the room.
Sakura snuggled the small bear closer to her chest. Just as she was about to drift off, she remembered the small bird still in the living room.
"Ah, it's scary to be alone in the dark. Right, Kuma-chan?" The teddy bear didn't respond. "You two haven' met. I'll introduce you!"
Sakura slid off the bed, bear tucked close to her chest. She'd set the box right on her bed stand so that the little bird wouldn't get lonely!
She stealthily edged open the door and peered into the living room. She frowned when she couldn't see the box where she had left it. There was a rustling sound and Sakura froze, aware her father was most likely still awake.
There was a light coming from the kitchen, and seeing as her patient was absent, Sakura crept towards it against her better judgement. She peeked around the corner, catching her father standing near the counter.
Before she could call for him, he upturned a box.
Sakura watched in frozen horror as the bird's limp body fell into the trash can.
...
"Tou-san? What happened to the bird..?"
"Oh? I'm sure it got all better and flew away during the night," Kizashi said with a tight smile. Sakura gave him a weak smile of her own.
"Oh... okay."
Age 18
There was an uneasy murmur as those of jonin ranking and higher had been gathered in a large hall beneath the Hokage tower. Clan heads and high ranked officials sat along the long table while the others stood near the walls. Sakura spotted Sasuke standing near Itachi and Shisui behind the Uchiha patriarch. She gave him a small wave which he returned with a slight nod of his head.
Sakura herself chose to stand in between Sai and Yamato.
"Kakashi, that damn bastard, is he still not here?!" Tsunade hissed, setting most people's hair on end.
"Ah, well. I'll take responsibility for passing on any information today for Senpai..." Yamato laughed nervously. Tsunade looked ready to breathe fire had Shizune not tugged the woman, hissing 'Tsunade-sama, dignity!'
"To hell with that. Remind me to give that man nothing higher than a C-rank for the next year!" Tsunade ranted.
"Tsunade-sama," Shikaku intoned. "The meeting."
"Right, right," Tsunade groaned. She straightened, a stern expression falling upon her face. The murmurs and whispers died out instantly.
"Some of you may know of the sporadic poisoning that has occurred these past few months. Fortunately, as of yet, all those afflicted by the poison were cured and we have been able to concoct an antidote. However, these attacks are not concentrated just in the Fire Country. Correspondence with the other villages have reported similar attacks with the same poison, which means this is now an international incident."
A heavy air encompassed the room.
"The other Kages and I have all agreed in a collaborative effort to search and destroy whoever is behind it. However, our enemy is largely unknown. If the attacks have been anything to go by, they are clever and resourceful. As you may or may not have heard, there is an up and coming organization searching for talent to incorporate into their ranks. This organization is also thought responsible for the strange disappearances as of late. There is a high chances the poisoning and this new organization are related."
"After discussing with the other nations, we decided that each nation will choose a select number of highly skilled, but rather obscure shinobi to infiltrate and investigate the organization." Shikaku said, picking up where Tsunade had left off. "We cannot leave it to become an even greater threat like Akatsuki did. We will be continue missions as normal, but squads will contain no less than five people. Those who are of chunin rank will be permitted outside the walls as long as the mission remains within Fire Country borders. Genin will kept within the village. Jonin will be sent sparingly across borders."
Sakura closed her eyes, trying not to imagine the disaster of a few years ago. Like the Akatsuki... If this were to lead to another potential war, then...
"Another thing," Tsunade said, already glaring at the people around the table as if daring them to argue with what she was about to say. "Those of bloodlines are asked to lay low and increase their security. There was an attempt in Iwa to steal a child holding the Explosion Release. Kiri... has reported an attempt on the Byakugan that the man Ao holds. It is debatable whether it is a coincidence or not, but we cannot take chances."
"Yashiro," Fugaku muttered to the man standing next to him.
"I understand, sir." The man bowed before disappearing.
Hiashi nodded at his aide as well who swiftly left. One by one, a member from each clan left the room, heading back towards their compounds.
"The team we will send will compose of two medics of jonin rank, and three others," Shikaku said slowly, and there was a tension in the room as people understood the weight of what it was going to entail. "Given the unknown circumstances, know that this will be a very dangerous mission. At worst, a suicide mission."
His words were followed by a deafening silence.
"I will announce the five names selected to participate in this mission," Tsunade said gravely.
...
"Ireye Yoshio, Okanaya Shojiro, and Noda Katsuyoshi." The three men stepped forward.
Itachi recognized all three of them. All three served in ANBU. Two specialized in fire jutsu. The other specialized in info gathering. No doubt the other nations would send shinobi representing their own element and specialists of their own so that they could diversify the variety of elements. They weren't going to send anyone coming from a clan, Itachi also observed.
"Omori Seiji. Tsukahara Hitomi. You two will be serving as the two medics."
Itachi vaguely recognized the two people that stepped forward.
"You five-"
"No."
Itachi, like all others in the room, turned to face the speaker, as a dark aura filled the room.
"Excuse me?" Tsunade said, voice dangerously low. "Would you like to repeat that, Haruno?"
"I said no. Omori Seiji cannot go," Sakura said, eyes and voice never wavering as she met Tsunade's glare.
"And why in the world can he not?"
"...Seiji is being sent because he is knowledgeable in poisons is he not?" Sakura said clinically, face revealing nothing. "I have no doubts that he is indeed one of the best regarding that subject, but as someone who has been regulating medics going out on the field, I know he has not been active for a long time. Returning to the field after such a period of time does not seem ideal to the conditions you described."
"Oh, I do hope then you have a suitable replacement in mind since you've made your clever argument," Tsunade huffed.
"Of course, Shishou. It's fine if I go in his stead, right?"
'...What,' Itachi thought.
"...What," Tsunade whispered.
"That idiot," Itachi heard Sasuke say faintly from next to him.
"Are you barking mad?!" Tsunade yelled, fist slamming down on the table as she stood. The wood cracked in half and there were alarmed cries as papers went astray as the table collapsed. "You must be insane if you think I'm letting you go! Might I inform you, that you hold the position of the Hospital Director as of two weeks ago?! Not to mention we are sending people that are not as known in the shinobi world. You all but painted a fucking sign in the war claiming who you were if your bright pink hair wasn't attention grabbing enough! This mission calls for subtly, not bringing down a goddamn mountain."
Sakura, oddly enough, looked calm, if a bit sheepish.
"About that-"
"Do you forget what you're carrying around on the center of your forehead?!"
"Shishou-"
"Oh yes, lets hand them the Byakugou seal to them on a fucking platter why don't we!"
"Please, Shishou-"
"Do you think I'm going let you go kill yourself?!"
"Hokage-sama!" Sakura yelled, interrupting Tsunade from her tirade. Once she had the panting woman's attention, she gave her a reassuring smile. "Godaime-sama. I am fairly sure Shizune can hold the position of Hospital Director as well as I could. If not, there are plenty of talented medics that can as well. I am able to alter my looks so I will not stand out or be recognized. I haven't been doing nothing these past few years since the war ended, so I can say I can safely hold my own without resorting to 'bringing down a mountain'." Sakura took a deep breath. "Hiding the Byakugou seal is a simple matter, and you yourself taught me how to disperse the seal should I ever be captured."
Green eyes scanned the room.
"Honestly. Everybody looks as if they're already holding a funeral."
Itachi watched mesmerized as the pink-haired girl spoke her next words.
"Shishou, I'm not going on this mission with the intention of killing myself. I am going on this mission with the intention of making sure everyone returns home."
"Idiot, idiot, idiot," Sasuke hissed under his breath. The rest of the room were as stunned as the Hokage. And did he daresay, everybody looked more hopeful than they had moments ago.
"...Ha," Tsunade fell back into her chair. She pinched the bridge of her nose, lips twitching. "What am I supposed to say to that? Damn brat. I knew at some point that terrible influence from your team would rear its ugly head. I'm putting you on probation from the team when you get back from this mission, you hear me?"
"I know you won't," Sakura responded with a wide grin. "Naruto will throw a fit and you couldn't stand that. Besides, if we're talking about terrible influences... Shishou, you're the-"
"You want to continue that statement?"
"...I'll need to be alive for the mission so I'll pass." Sakura said, backing off.
There was badly concealed laughter, the tension all but disappearing. Shisui's shoulders were shaking with laughter.
Itachi too chuckled, amused and slightly impressed. Making up his mind, Itachi stepped forward and raised his hand.
"Hokage-sama. With all due respect, I would also like to participate in this mission."
"YOU WHAT?!" Tsunade and the Uchiha clan head shouted in tandem.
"With all due respect you say?" Tsunade said, fist glowing blue.
"Itachi, you are in no position to volunteer yourself!" His father yelled at the same time. "You are heir to the Uchiha clan! You cannot-"
"Sasuke is just as suited, if not better suited for the title of clan head. You know that."
"Nii-san?!" Sasuke squeaked, voice taking on a strange pitch.
"Itachi?" Shisui asked, voice pinched.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. He must look insane.
"It matters little since I'll be returning once the mission is over anyway," Itachi reasoned. "If anything, wouldn't me going speed the duration of the mission?"
"Stuck up little-!" Tsunade screeched.
"Arrogant fool!" His father howled.
"...Itachi-san?" Itachi gave her a smirk when he caught Sakura's imploring look.
"With Sakura-san on the team, I don't believe there is a need for two medics. That would allow me to join as well with little no additional problems," Itachi added.
"Numbers is not the issue you goddamn-! Everyone except those whose name was called, get out!" Tsunade screeched.
Shisui mouthed 'We'll talk later' as he left, giving him a look that brook no arguments.
The room quickly emptied, a few lingering until Tsunade sent them a death glare.
When the door slammed shut, all that remained was those seated around the (broken) table, Sakura, the four others, and Itachi.
"Do tell me what inspired you to go on this mission, and it better be good, Uchiha."
"As I said, it would increase the likelihood of success, though I have no doubt Sakura-san will make sure it is a success either way. My presence would merely be an assurance of sorts."
"Did you not listen to the briefing? They may be targeting strong bloodlines, and the Sharingan is one of the most dangerous ones we cannot afford the enemy to have." Tsunade argued.
"Not to worry. Should anyone take my eyes and attempt to utilize them, it is set to burn itself and the host. Like Sakura-san, I will be taking measures so that I will not be recognized," Itachi explained.
"Itachi..." Fugaku said, voice cracking. "You cannot-"
"You seem extraordinarily doubtful, Tou-san. I assure you the Sharingan will be kept out of enemy hands. And you know Sasuke as well as I. He would make great clan leader. Either way, you cannot stop me from going. I am long past the age where I can make my own decisions."
Itachi stared at his father stubbornly, and something within the man seemed to crack. Something that Fugaku would have never let happen before.
"Yes, indeed you are. You are far past the age where I am able to tell you what to do. And I am sure this is not just a strategy to avoid your responsibilities," Fugaku said in a flat, resigned tone. At that moment, he looked very much like his age. "You were always like this... Very well. You have my blessing to leave on the condition you don't die."
Tsunade let out a deep sigh at this.
"The world's gone insane. I can't wait to retire. Disrespectful, pretentious brats. You want to go on this mission? Fine. Do what you want, I don't care anymore. The final team will be Ireye Yoshio, Okanaya Shojiro, Noda Katsuyoshi, Haruno Sakura, and Uchiha Itachi. Anybody else have anything they'd like to say?"
"I do not think it is a bad arrangement," Shikaku assented. "This might work out well."
"Tsunade you cannot seriously be thinking-" Homura began, Koharu nodding along.
"That's Hokage to you, councilor. Or does everybody just intend to ignore that? You'd think everybody planned to get on my nerves today." Tsunade growled. "You'd think that this position would entail some respect but noooo. I'm not actually in the mood to hear any further protests so the meeting is adjourned. The five of you will report tomorrow regarding details. All of you get the hell out. Shizune, sake!"
Itachi let out a breath as the meeting finally ended.
"Itachi..." his father said, but Itachi's eyes trailed after the head of pink that slipped out of the room.
"At home, Tou-san. I have something I need to attend to."
...
"Seiji," Sakura said, startling the man just slightly older than her. "You were waiting, just as I expected."
"Sakura-sama!" The man bowed awkwardly.
"There's no need for formalities, I keep saying. There's no need to bow," Sakura said, a bit embarrassed.
"Right... um. Sakura-sam- I mean. Sakura-san. Why... why did you..?" the man asked helplessly. "I'm not ungrateful, it's just-"
Sakura held up a hand, stopping him.
"No, no. I understand. I don't doubt your skills and experience. I really meant no offense. You've actually gone on quite a few missions during the past few months, so I'm sure your senses aren't dull either. So why did I say you were unqualified and stepped up to take your place, right?"
"...Yes." The man agreed.
"Well, well," Sakura said, a hand to her chin as if she were in deep thought. "Maybe it was because of Aiko-chan, perhaps?"
At his long time girlfriend's name, Seiji deflated like a balloon.
"Hey, come on. I just mentioned her name!"
"I appreciate your concern, Sakura-san, but I don't think she even likes me anymore. She avoids me like the plague and she can't even look at me straight in the eyes. What... What if she found a better man?!" Seiji cried.
"That's a bit of a jump there, don't you think? Aiko-"
"I should just go on this mission, Sakura-san. I want the best for Aiko, but I really don't think I can stand to see her with another man. You didn't have to take my place, please-"
"Whoa, whoa. Hang on there, Seiji," Sakura scratched her head. "Ah, to hell with it. I still haven't been officially demoted from my position as Hospital Director. I can do what I want. Listen, Seiji," Sakura said, putting a hand on the man's shoulder so that he was staring directly at her. "There's this whole hassle called patient confidentiality, but I really can't let someone who's about to be a father leave on a dangerous mission for a long time, can I?"
"I-" Seiji froze. "Wait. F-father?"
"Yup."
"...Me?" He whispered.
"Of course you, you dork. You two are quite the pair. I told her to tell you weeks ago when she came in to just tell you since there was no way you were going to abandon her, but she was frightened out of her mind with worry and you were a hopeless git."
"A father... me. I'm going to become... a dad?" Seiji said, a strong flicker of emotion passing through his eyes. "I... Me. A dad."
"I'm going to be a father," Seiji said to Sakura, a smile breaking on his face. "Me."
"Mhm. A father. Seiji, you are planning to ask her to marry you some time soon, right?"
"Of course..." the man said in a daze. Sakura smiled.
"Well? What are you still doing here, Seiji? Go."
The man was off faster than an arrow.
Sakura laughed. "Hopeless idiot."
She let out a long breath, taking in the night sky. That was a load off her chest. It had been torture seeing the two dance around each other for so long. In fact, maybe she should have done this earlier. She felt a light breeze as someone landed next to her.
"...Itachi-san," Sakura said, eyes flickering to the man.