After several minutes, the black flames disappeared.

"Hey, Sasuke?"

"Yes, Naruto?"

"You think Itachi is somewhere nearby?"

"I do believe he is. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, just wondering."

Sakura giggled at the overly polite conversation.

Naruto released the shield and stood up, pulling Sakura to her feet with him.

"I'm going to see if I can spot Itachi and I'll bring him here." Sasuke waited for Naruto's agreeing nod then took two running steps and leapt into the air.

Sakura's jaw dropped as Sasuke changed into a raven and flew off.

"Full of surprises, aren't we?"

"Yeah." Sakura coughed. "So, when do Soul Marks show up?"

Naruto moved back until he was leaning against a tree. He pulled Sakura until she was leaning against him. "When we hit puberty. So, that means Itachi knew about Sasuke and myself before we knew about him."

"Did he tell you or anything?"

"He didn't tell us outright but he…prepared us, so we weren't surprised."

"You love them."

Naruto looked down at her, surprise written across his face. "Of course! We're meant for each other."

Sakura looked away. For some reason she felt extremely jealous. "What about the blank spot?"

Naruto sighed. "It could mean that person has not been born yet. Fortunately, we live a long time, so we can wait. The only drawback is that we won't be fertile until the fourth arrives."

"What if the fourth is another man."

"Nature has her way. Always. We weren't joking that one of us will change gender. If the fourth is another man, quite possible two of us will change. It's possible that only one might. If the single gender swap happens to Sasuke or Itachi, the other will never be able to impregnate the female because they're related but I'd be able to as well as the fourth."

"What…what if the fourth is dead?"

"That the fourth died before Itachi even hit puberty?"

"Yes."

"Well, I don't know about that. But I do know someone who was part of a Trio and his partners died but then he was given a new partner when that person hit puberty. So, he's happy now. And the gender swap rule I was just explaining, he and his partner are the exception to that rule."

"Nature has exceptions?"

Naruto shrugged. "It doesn't happen very often and usually if one of the pair or group has lost all of his or her previous group and THAT happens very rarely." Naruto's head shot up. He pushed Sakura behind him.

"Nar…"

Naruto glared at her over his shoulder, pressing a finger to his lips. He turned back to facing forward when the bushes parted, and three men walked into the clearing. One had a raven riding on his shoulder.

"ITACHI!" Naruto was across the clearing and in the other man's arms before Sakura could even blink. She blushed at the long slow kiss the two exchanged as the raven flew to the side and changed back into Sasuke.

Sakura focused on the other two men that had appeared. "Mr. Hatake? Mr. Umino?"

"Sakura." Iruka Umino smiled at her. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, sir."

He laughed softly. "I think under the circumstances you can call me Iruka and him Kakashi. I don't think we'll be going back to school anytime soon."

Kakashi looked at her. "Sasuke filled us in about what happened to you. Mind if I look at your neck?" At Sakura's agreement, he lifted her hair and peered at the Seal. "It's Jiraiya's work all right. Smart of you not to mess with it here. When we get to the Safehold, we'll have Jiraiya explain and remove it. If he's not there, then we'll have Minato look at it."

"And if they're not there?" Naruto's voice was tense.

Iruka ran a hand through Naruto's hair. "Let's not court the Darkness before it's necessary."

Naruto nodded.

Kakashi looked at the now larger group. "We're going to have to be extra careful since the humans found us out here. Does anyone have any technology? Double check every pocket." He watched as everyone turned out all their pockets. Nothing. "Then, hopefully, it was sheer coincidence. Let's go. I want to get there before nightfall. I'll lead. Itachi, you take the rear. Sakura, you're in-between Naruto and Sasuke. Boys, she's still your responsibility. Let's go."

888888

Three hours later, they were standing before the largest oak tree Sakura had ever seen. "It's huge!" Sakura breathed. "How old do you think it is?"

Iruka smiled at her. "It was here before the first humans ever set foot on this continent. And it will be here after they are dead and gone." He reached out and patted it gently.

"So how do we use it to get into Safehold?"

Kakashi smiled sweetly, "Well, you stand about fifteen feet away and run as fast as you can toward the trunk and you'll end up in Safehold."

Sakura's eyes narrowed at the blandly innocent face of her former teacher. "That sounds an awful lot like Harry Potter if you ask me."

Iruka rolled his eyes and swatted at Kakashi's shoulder. "Ignore him, he's being an idiot. Just place your hands on the trunk and I'll get us there."

888888

Sakura blinked rapidly to get her eyes to adjust to the different lighting. She looked around and it seemed like they were in the Great Hall of some sort of castle.

"MY BABY!" came a shriek that was able to outdo Sakura's own mother at her angriest. Tears well up in her eyes at that thought. Through the tears she saw a woman about her height with the most brilliant red hair shoving people aside at a run.

"MOM!" Naruto raced to meet her, and they collided and hugged each other fiercely.

Sakura couldn't hear what Naruto's mom was saying but when she began patting him down it was obvious she was checking him for injuries. Then the red-head looked up and saw Itachi and Sasuke. "MY BESTIE'S BABIES!"

The two young men smiled and referred to her as Aunt Kushina and allowed her to inspect them for injuries. After she finished examining Sasuke and Itachi, her attention turned to Kakashi and Iruka.

Then it was Sakura's turn.

"Mom, this is Sakura Haruno. She's a classmate of ours. We found her in the woods under a Geas."

Kakashi stepped forward. "And she's Sealed. Is Jiraiya here? It's his work."

Kushina's eyes narrowed. "No. Jiraiya hasn't arrived yet. But Minato's here. Naruto, your father is the tower meeting with some of the Clan Heads. Get him. Don't let him make any excuses." She smiled at Sakura. "I'm Kushina Uzumaki, Naruto's mother."

"Pleased to meet you." Sakura smiled back.

"Your parents?"

Tears fell, and Sakura found herself in Kushina's arms. "Our house blew up. I think they're dead."

Kushina held her close and murmured into her hair. "I'm so sorry, sweetie. But don't worry, you'll be taken care of here."

"Do I belong here?"

Kushina laughed "You wouldn't have made it past the barrier if you didn't."

She turned as Naruto and an older version of him approached. "Minato, this is Sakura Haruno. Sakura, this is my husband, Minato Namikaze."

"Hello, Sakura. May I have your permission to look at the back of your neck?" At Sakura's nod he moved aside her hair. And he inhaled sharply.

"Dad?"

"Uncle Minato?"

Minato took a step back. "This is Jiraiya's Work. In fact, he told me about it some time ago. I never thought that I'd see this day."

Sakura grew frightened. Her breathing began to quicken.

Minato noticed and placed his hands on her shoulders. "There is nothing for you to be frightened about. But," his hand trailed down her cheek, "your life is about to change immensely. Jiraiya gave me the Key to removing the Seal."

"Does it need to be removed?" asked Kakashi quietly.

"Jiraiya told you too?"

"Yes, but I don't have the skills to use the Key, but I'd be able to give it to those who would."

"It's time. If we are to survive, it's time." Minato turned back to Sakura. "This will feel strange but you're safe. I promise."

Sakura nodded.

Minato moved her hair aside again and she felt him trace a pattern on her neck as he chanted words she didn't understand.

Then she felt something shatter.

She became blind as her mind opened.

Voices cried out in shock and awe.

When she could see again, she was the only one standing. Everyone else was on one knee before her. She looked to the side and saw herself in a mirror. She had changed. Her ordinary boring brown hair and brown eyes were gone. In their place was pink hair that cascaded to the floor and brilliant emerald eyes that glowed brightly. Then she noticed her arms, they were covered in vines and solid four-pointed leaves. She saw the names written on her arm and she looked at the two men and one woman that listed there. Their tattoos had also changed, with the leaves becoming solid and her name written clearly. Their welcoming smiles chased away any fears she had.

Minato rose to his feet and shouted:

"ALL HAIL THE FAE QUEEN SAKURA!"

The roar that came back shook the Great Hall:

"HAIL FAE QUEEN SAKURA!"