Sakura's Second Chance

Chapter 1: It Starts At The Beginning

"Okay, lets start the self evaluation," my voice sounded a little shaky, but that's to be expected, I mean how many people get a chance to travel back into there six year old body.

Appraising myself carefully I documented, "Overall muscular loss, height loss, chakra coils are less defined, subject never had large chakra pools so this change isn't dramatic," I preformed a few stretches and drills, "Quite limber yet obvious reductions, hand sign speed is lessened and yet increased from memory of how I was at this time, muscle memory seems to be more or less intact. Now how about appearance, Other than the aforementioned height loss, the subject presents with mild anorexia, luckily caught early enough to not stint growth, hair long, bangs recently done away with."

I had to check the hall outside my bedroom before finishing, "As for the butt and breasts, well no surprise there considering the age, but still not much of a loss."

I had to sigh at that. Somehow the fact that my six year old self is only slightly less buxom than my 24 year old self is quite disturbing. Nothing to be done. I realize that the auditory evaluation was unnecessary but trying to break years of medical training and habit is not easy to do. Remembering what hot stuff I used to think I was after the confidence boost from Ino I'm slightly disgusted to see myself. I'm honestly just glad I stopped to consider my excessive dieting before deciding when I was going to come back to. Otherwise I probably would've gone straight to the ninja accademy, or maybe even the day Team 7 was put together. I would worry more about my chakra reserves but the gift Naruto sent back with me should carry me through.

Thinking about him makes me wonder. What is going to happen to that time line? There was no way for us to know. Will it continue? Or like we thought will it change as I change this time? I can't stand the thought of him being alone there now. It's crazy how like the Sannin we ended up, but then at the same time we were so different. If I do not exist in that time any longer and he does… No, I can't think like that. I came back to fix things and make him, no, make us stronger. Please be okay.

Alright, time to train. It's crazy how everything is the same as it was. Wooden stairs and white halls, leading down to the front door. I forgot that everything I owned at this time was very girly. I am going to need to go by some decent training clothes soon. Slipping on my shoes I realized that these sneakers would only hold up a few months from the kind of training I was about to put them through.

A shrill voice called out right before I opened the door, "And where exactly do you think you're going young lady?"

"Mom," it was only meant to be a thought but the word escaped my mouth before I could stop it.

There she stood, hands on hips and ladle in hand. Why so many of my memories of her were like this I'll never know, but I had crossed into the kitchen and wrapped her in my arms before I knew what had happened. I might not be very strong yet but her gasps still let me know I was crushing her with my hug before lightening up.

"Goodness Sakura, are you trying to crush your mother? I think you need to get a...grip," her father chimed in with one of his notoriously bad puns, but honestly it was the best joke in the world to me right now.

Mom and I both laughed before both stopped and looked at me laughing, "What's gotten into you Sakura, you never laugh at your dad's jokes? If this is some kind of new scheme your concocting I'll admit it's better that usual but it won't work. It's almost dinner time young lady, where do you think you were trying to go?"

I noticed she didn't mention the bone crushing hug I gave her, "Sorry mom, I don't know why but it felt like I hadn't seen you in ages. I know, it's silly. And dad's joke just caught me by surprise, that's all. We get it, I had a 'grip' on mom, ha ha dad very funny."

They both chuckled but my dad grinned brightly, "Come on Sakura, don't explain the joke, that's not very...punny."

Again, mom and I erupted into laughter before I gather myself, "Okay, I give. I was just heading to the back yard to get some training in mom. I want to start the ninja academy in two years so I had best have some ninja skills before I go."

"Oh, that's right," my mom shook her head and returned her attention to the stove, "ever since you heard that the Uchiha boy was going you just had to go too, right? Well, dinner will be ready in half an hour so you make sure you come in around then."

I wanted to tell my mom exactly where the Uchiha could shove his moody ass but I can't let them in on how different I am. Some changes are impossible to miss, but I should do my best to not seem too different. I don't know about dad, but mom will definitely notice. Okay Sakura, gotta suck it up and do this right.

"Well duh mom, he is just so handsome and strong, you just know he's going to be a crazy powerful ninja. So if I want him to like me then I have to be a crazy strong kunoichi right? We both know men are helpless without us women around, right mom," I said giving her a wink.

She laughed a pure clean laugh and winked right back at me, "My, my, when did my daughter get so wise. Just try not to get to wrapped up in that boy dear. Remember to take care of yourself first. You are a wonderful young woman and if he is as great as you say then he won't be able to miss that."

My dad just looked back and forth at us, "It's finally happened, I've become the odd 'man' out."

We all laughed before I headed into the back. Dad may have never made it past genin but he used to be very adamant about his training. That left me a slightly worn down dummy in the back to practice with and a couple kunai he just left in the post. I love my father but honestly he was just asking for me to hurt myself.

Forty-five minutes later I caught my mom watching me from the corner of my eye, "Yes, mom?"

"Honestly, I came out here to fuss at you for being late to dinner," her words didn't seem to hold her scolding tone, "but honey, I've never seen you fight like that. You're a natural. I forgot that your dad had that old thing out here. Look at you though, you've splintered it. I mean, I'm sure it was rotting but still, you have the makings of an excellent ninja."

I was beaming until I heard my mom utter a few more words under her breath, "Whether I like it or not."

She rounded back towards the kitchen without even telling me to come in. It was like her way of saying she respected all of the effort I was putting in training. I almost cried. It was so late in life that I finally understood my mother, long after she'd passed away, courtesy of the ninja war. All she ever wanted was for me to get serious about my life. She hated the way I approached my life as a ninja, being such a fangirl. I'm not sure if my dad always kept her at bay or she thought I wouldn't make it through the academy, but either way now I could prove to her how magnificent of a kunoichi I could be.

It only took me a few long strides to catch up to her and jump up on her back making the poor woman almost buckle, "What's for dinner mom, I'm hungry?"

"Oh Sakura," she exclaimed at the sudden addition of even my light weight, "Don't suddenly jump on my like that. You have to warn me, or are you practicing your ninja assassination techniques on me now."

"That's right mom," I giggled at her joke, "Beware the pink tickler, the most deadly kunoichi on the playground."

I attacked her sides with my fingers eliciting almost childlike laughter from her. We'd barely made it through the door before she collapsed from my ministrations. She hadn't been down for a minute before she'd flipped it on me and I was at her mercy. Sure with my skills I could have flipped it on her, but at this point in time with her superior muscle strength and limb reach it wouldn't have looked right.

Both of us were giggling like made when dad found us, "Alright now, laughter is my job. What am I going to do if you two take that from me?"

Mom and I both gave him an appraising look and in unison said, "Cook!"

2 HOURS LATER

Dinner that night had been amazing. I had never gotten along with my parents like that, and though I knew I should have been a little more bratty and childish I couldn't help myself. I truly wanted this kind of relationship with my mother and now that I could have it I couldn't bear to lose it. I think what surprised her far more than my attitude though was my appetite. She was shocked when I finished my plate, I thought she was going to faint when I asked for more. I had to give an impassioned speech about how if I was ever going to get strong I was going to need to eat and gain muscle. I acted like it hurt but I explained I needed the energy to train and could always lose the weight some later on.

Honestly, I probably ate a little too much. I just couldn't help myself, finally getting to eat some of my mother's cooking again was like a dream come true. The nice thing about being a kid was doing some of the things it feels a bit ridiculous to do as an adult. Walking right up to my bed, I turned around and flopped back on the bed sending whatever magazines and makeup I had on it into the air. Sure, I still did this kind of thing as an adult, but now I felt good about doing it. Naruto would always tease me about how much of a kid I still am when I did it.

A silent tear feel down my face at the thought. The thought of flopping down in my bed next to his. Him chuckling at me and my lack of femininity. It was funny, when I quit trying so hard to impress other people and it was just Naruto and I the feeling of acting like the perfect lady was gone. I could be the real me. We used to stay up late just teasing each other. Some heroes we turned out to be, eh Naruto?

Curling up in my bed I had to force the memories of that last night in my original time out of my head. That or I'd never sleep. Flashes of blond hair and toned muscles still haunted my sleep. Firm embraces, the meeting of lips, and the scars, oh so many scars.

THE NEXT DAY

I cursed under the strain of what was once my light warm up. I felt like I'd burned up all of my strength for the day. That was alright though, it just meant that I was finally doing something right. I didn't need to train much more right now anyway. What I really needed to do more than anything right now was get cleaned up, eat, and find a certain little blond boy and set him on the right path. As a young girl I knew I should be grossed out by my current state but I couldn't help but revel in it. Not five minutes later, sweat covered and collapsed on the floor, was how my mom found me.

"I was going to tell you to come down for breakfast," she sniffed a bit before continuing, "but I think you need to take a bath first young lady. What would you do if your dear Sasuke found you like this?"

The grin my mom had told me she thought she had me pegged, "Well first I'd probably have to smack him for being in my room without permission when I'm in my pj's. Honestly though, I've seen how he looked at all the girls who fawn all over him mom. I can tell, he doesn't want that kind of girl. So I'll become a strong and independent woman. Then I'm sure he'll fall for me."

Honestly, my mom looked like her jaw had been wired open, "Sakura, are you really my Sakura? I mean, that's great and all, but quitting your dieting, all this training, and now this? You just aren't acting like yourself at all."

I knew this was too much at once, gotta think fast, "Mom, it's like this. I had this dream, a dream of the future, my future and I didn't like what I saw. I am still a little girl mom, but I just want to be a strong person and ninja. I just can't approach life the way I have, especially if I want to be a ninja."

I didn't have to put on an act here. Just remembering some of what happened was still enough to bring tears to my eyes. Mom was obviously sold because her suspicion disappeared and I was enveloped in a hug. I was wrapped in warmth, and not the sweaty kind I was covered with.

"Just don't grow up to fast, okay baby," she said tearfully, "I can't wait to see what kind of woman you become. Just remember to take it slow, make mistakes, and I'll always be here for you after them, okay?"

"Sure thing mom," I cheerfully replied.

Even though I know I have things to do the allure of soaking in the tub was just a little to hard to pass up. Naruto was never an early to rise type, especially at this age. Still, I need to eat and get started with my day. I can't seem overly eager with Naruto. Sure, I want to create a flirtation with him, but he always works harder when he has goals he wants to attain. The question haunting me is how exactly do I want to go about his training. If I set him up to be rookie of the year then he might get a little cocky, but hopefully I can control that. He has a lot to do to prepare him for what is to come. The problem… is him.

The last Uchiha helped spur on Naruto's growth, giving him a rival as well as a pseudo-brother. Though in the end, that might have caused more harm than good. Had Sasuke made the right choices then the two of them could have become a legendary pair that dwarfed the Sanin. Unfortunately, that brat was always more concerned with power and revenge. Getting Naruto away from Sasuke, and in turn Kakashi who will want to train him, should do him some good. He might actually get a sensei who gives a crap. Still, there are events like the mission to Wave Country that helped shape Naruto as a person and, if possible, I still want him to experience that. Oh Naruto.

After a good thirty minute soak I finally joined my mother for breakfast. She had made slightly more than usual which I was happy for. It was going to take some work to get my body out of its half starved state, and I needed to do that before I could even dream of gaining muscle mass. My chakra coils, control and stores are something that I can actively work on now. I guess I still need to be aware of when and where I do these things, mom is already suspicious.

"Breakfast is great mom, but where's dad," I couldn't really remember many morning when he wasn't joining us for breakfast.

She chuckled lightly before answering me, "That fool of a father of yours has headed out early to run some errands. With this random surge of training you've been doing I think you really lit a fire under him."

I couldn't help but give her a funny look, "You mean one day of training from me got him all raring to go?"

She just nodded her head as she took another bite of her breakfast. Taking another look at the table I finally noticed that the breakfast mom prepared seemed geared towards training. A typical breakfast from my mom was usually very healthy, a bowl of oatmeal I wouldn't finish and a piece of fruit. In front of me this morning sat eggs, bacon, whole grain oatmeal, and fruit. I couldn't be sure without asking, but if I had to guess she added the eggs and bacon while I was showering to support my training.

As I was getting finished I helped mom collect the dishes and set a plate out for dad. I let her wash while I dried. She gave me a few funny looks, but I just made conversation with her. If I really wanted to blend in more I should have let her handle the dishes by herself, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I know that it has nothing to do with why I came back to this time, but I can't help but want to improve my relationship with my mother this time around.

"Sakura," my mother called out as I began to head back to my room, "Are you sure there isn't something you want to talk about? I really don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth here but, you're just acting so different. I don't want you to tell me that you're dying or something."

I could feel the sad smile come to my face from just how close her guess was, "No mom, I'm just fine. Jeez, if that's the reception I get from helping you do dishes then you can do them yourself from now on. No sweat off my back."

We both laughed then but I knew I hadn't completely dissuaded her worry. I had to run out of the room as she threw the dish towel at me and head back up the stairs. My funds were basically nonexistent and since I was just a little girl and a far cry from being a shinobi I couldn't even begin to take on D rank missions. Most basic shinobi gear is cheaper than civilian fashion luckily. That being said advanced ninja gear is ridiculously expensive.

"Sakura, can you come down here please," looks like dad just got back, "I've got a surprise for you."

Hurriedly I put on the sturdiest, while most fashionable, outfit I could find. As a seasoned kunoichi I appreciate functionality over appearance, but I'm still a girl after all. As I got downstairs I found dad scarfing his food down while mom scolded him. Something had him excited and he was just brushing off all of mom's complaints.

As soon as he'd finished he hopped up to face me, "Come on Sakura. I've got something to show you."

"OkaAAAAAY," I said as dad grabbed my arm and drug me outside.

Having to hop on one leg as dad drug me behind him we made our way to the back yard. Instead of the rotten training dummy and shoddy kunai out here just yesterday I found a brand new taijutsu dummy, and three targets for kunai and shuriken practice. Sitting beside the targets were two new sets of kunai and shuriken as well as what looked like a kids training set which were all wooden.

"Wow dad, all this looks expensive," I said honestly a little shocked.

Past his usual smile I could see the faint signs of a blush, "Well, I can't stay a Genin all my life can I? Especially if my little girl is working on becoming a ninja. This way we can train together, father and daughter, an unstoppable ninja combo."

I chuckled a bit and picked up the wooden training set, "What exactly am I supposed to do with this?"

He chuckled a bit nervously, "Well, ya see, your mom said she'd throw me out if I kept letting you train with real weapons so I got you those to practice with," then dad got a bit closer and whispered to me, "but just between the two of us if you want to use the real ones when she isn't around I won't tell."

"I heard that," my moms voice called out from inside.

Dad facepalmed, "Busted."

SCENE BREAK

Training with dad had been fun, but it was more frustrating than anything. I mean, how would he react if he only hit every other bullseye and I hit it every time with pinpoint precision. The best I could manage was aiming at random spots and hitting those instead. Then of course there was my taijutsu. I found it to be far more difficult to fake. Either I was to skilled for my age or a bumbling idiot. The only thing I could do was stick to really basic attacks even though mom had caught me doing far more last night.

Now finally out in town I had a look at a few ninja shops. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that they treated me like a child, but hopefully I'd be able to take advantage of that. After all, who was going to charge a cute little girl full price for some mesh armor and shoes. Pink hair and green eyes are a lethal combination after all. Until I get into more advanced training that much should suffice.

Now I had to stalk around the village until I happened upon the blond object of my affection. I couldn't actively search for him. I needed to make it seem like I was just happening upon him. After going around for half the day I'd almost given up hope until I headed into Ichiraku's for a ramen lunch. It was in perhaps the most likely place that I found the boy I had been searching for.

"Well hello there," I was greeted by the owner of the establishment who was much like an uncle to Naruto, "and what can I get for such a cute little customer today?"

"I'll have a miso ramen please, with plenty of naruto in it," it took all I had to hold back my laughter.

That comment caught the attention of the blond boy who had just been regaling the owner with his latest pranking exploits. Another of his many attempts to get attention, and occasionally to right a wrong. I think a lot of people would be surprised the number of pranks Naruto pulled that were retribution for something that Naruto saw that he found was wrong. Even as such an adorable little boy he had the cutest since of justice.

"You don't want me in your ramen, I'd taste awful," Naruto joked with an ear to ear grin.

Just then a girl came from the back of the stand with a bowl of ramen in her hands who looked around twelve, "I don't know about that Naruto, with as much ramen as you eat I'm sure you've got to be ramen flavored at this point."

We all laughed at that before the owner, Teuchi, came back around, "Now, now, we don't cook the customers, regardless of flavor. Naruto how about you tell our new customer your story."

"I don't think she'd really enjoy it old man," Naruto replied.

I hopped up into the seat beside him at the counter and looked at him, "If you don't mind, I'd love to hear. I didn't catch much of it but what I heard on the way in sounded really funny."

"Okay, so it's like this," he began as he told me the story of his latest endeavor.

It was actually quite brilliant. He had gone to the council room and put a ninja bonding agent that he'd probably stolen into the chairs of the civilian council. He'd even made sure it was odorless so that the Inuzuka clan didn't catch on. He had then proceeded to pop in on their latest meeting and entice them until they tried to stand. Now that alone wouldn't be very funny but that wasn't the best part. The best part had to be the chemical that his unnamed accomplice had placed in the water of all the civilian council members which made them desperate to use the restroom. The thought of several grown men and women complaining about all of their important issues being reduced to pissing on themselves was hilarious as far as I'm concerned. Even if my mom is one of them.

I laughed as hard as I ever had at his antics. He spent the next hour telling me about other pranks, obviously pleased by my reaction. As enchanted as I was by the grin that he had I was still heartbroken at the desperation behind it. I could see how happy he was to have someone his own age to talk to and that he was just counting down the moments until he'd never see me again. In his adult years he had confided to me that he'd never expected anything good to last back then.

"So, other than master prankster, what do you do with your time Naruto-san," I asked trying to lead us in the right direction.

His surprise lasted only a moment before his smile recovered, "Well, I am going to be the strongest ninja in the whole village, that way everyone will respect me."

"So what kind of training are you doing," I wondered what kind of response I might get from this.

He stopped and thought for a second, "Well I have done a lot of evasion training, running from angry villagers and all. I've also broken into the T&I compound a few times, so that has to count as major stealth training. Other than that I just do some basic workouts. I don't have parents to teach me or any family scrolls or anything since I'm an orphan."

He rubbed the back of his head in that cute way that I loved so much. After paying for our meals we started wandering through the village. He consistently tried to create space between the two of us. To my shame it took me about five minutes before I realized that he was trying to keep people from realizing that I was associating with him. He was trying to protect me. Well that just wouldn't do.

Falling back in stride with him I grabbed his hand before taking off running, "Come on!"

Before he could argue or try and be gallant once more I took off dragging him behind me in much the same fashion as my dad did to me only just that morning. It took them about twenty minutes to reach their destination. A training grounds that was devoid of people. I came to find that even ninja were often superstitious and that training ground 13 was often left open.

"Uhh, Sakura-san, what are we doing here," his curiosity bubbling to the surface.

Unintentionally I mimicked his embarrassed head scratch, "Well you and I both want to be incredible ninja, so I figured we should get serious. Neither of us are from ninja families so we start out with a disadvantage. The way I see it, the only thing we can do is train harder than any of them."

I was unsure if my speech would have any affect on him until I saw the fire burning in his eyes, "You're right Sakura-chan. What do you think we should do first? We could spar, or do physical training, I don't really know any ninjutsu, do you?"

His energy was positively infectious. It honestly makes me wonder how I never got dragged into it when we were kids… well before when we were kids. I hate that the only answer I can come up with is that I had my head to far up Sasuke's ass. Looking at the boy in front of me I could tell he certainly hadn't changed at all, only I have. I couldn't let that get me down now. We still had training to do and I had one all important mission that needed to be accomplished asap.

Clutching my fists to my chests in excitement I replied, "Alright, well I don't know any ninjutsu or genjutsu either but hopefully my dad will teach me some and then I can teach you. My dad has been a genin for a reeeeally long time so he's learned a bunch of tricks but not many strong techniques. So lets perfect what we can for now and learn more whenever we can. I saw we practice our taijutsu and then we do physical training until we fall over!"

Naruto grinned ear to ear once more and gave me a thumbs up, "Awesome Sakura-chan, buuut the truth is I don't really know a taijutsu style either. I can try and then do a bunch of workouts though. Nothing will stop me from becoming the best dattebayo!"

I loved his fierce determination. No matter how hard a life he's been given he is never loses his spirit. It took me years to understand, but this is truly the will of fire. I guess I'll show him the basics of taijutsu, but it'll be best if I leave his taijutsu and ninjutsu training to his other sensei. After all, I may be strong, but she's a force of nature.

It took us six hours to wear Naruto out. An hour of taijutsu was quickly wearing me down and I knew if I kept things at this pace then I'd be the one to pass out. Then all of my careful plans today would all be for nothing. While only lightly participating I lead him through some strength training combined with aerobic and anaerobic exercise. He'd only questioned once why I wasn't doing it all to, to which I replied that I'd already done some this morning, plus I was watching his form. I explained that it's better to do something properly once than the wrong way a hundred times. Whether he understood or not I'll never know but he nodded and went right along training.

Gasping and out of breath he finally collapsed to the ground, "Jeez Sakura-chan, you're a real slave driver."

I laughed a bit thinking of all the times he'd pushed me far past the point of exhaustion in our training, "Nothing worth having ever came easy Naruto. Why don't you just take a little rest and then we'll head home?"

A response never left his mouth, well not an expected one, instead all I got was a snore. He had passed out only moments after he'd sprawled out on the ground. I'm not quite sure how he'd respond to it but I took the opportunity to kneel behind him and put his head in my lap. I was caught by surprise when I realized exactly how much I'd missed running my hands through his hair. He even let out one of his rare purrs for me which always left me weak in the knees. If a sound could say I love you then that would be it for her.

"Time to get down to business, and don't think for a second that I don't know you're listening fox, or should I call you Ahri. That's right, we need to talk," after I finished talking I placed my hand on Naruto's seal and meditated.

Mere moments later I opened my eyes to find myself in a dank sewer. Apparently Naruto had spruced the place up a bit the first time that I'd seen it. Water was up to my ankles but I didn't really feel wet and the room itself was dimly lit by torches. The growl that literaly seemed to make the air vibrate made me aware that the Nine Tails was not happy. I really wasn't surprised, after all, she'd never even told anyone that name until Naruto and myself.

"How do you know that name brat," the fox hissed.

I smiled and laughed thinking how different this was from the fox I knew, "I have something for you. None of this will make sense until you take it. Don't be afraid, it's your own chakra."

Placing my hand on my chest I drew the chakra out of my chest. Even I wasn't sure how clear it was going to come. The fox was certain that it would work so there was no reason for me to argue. Hell, the fact that any of this was going to plan felt like a minor miracle to me.

In response the fox let out a mighty roar, "I fear nothing brat. Least of all from some wisp of a child like you. You're as likely to fall over and die on the spot as to take your next breath. Take your best shot with whatever that is and see the futility that is your weakness."

I shook my head. Stubborn idiot can't even identify her own chakra when she's this riled up. Maybe I shouldn't have used her real name but it was the only way I could guarantee that she bring me in here.

The nine tails brought it's nose as close as it could to the bars without physically touching it. I walked forward and placed my hand on the beasts nose letting it absorb the energy that it had gifted me in the future. It wasn't immediate, but subtly all of the KI dispersed from the room and all of the rage left her eyes. She took on the human form that I knew so well and looked at me as if not sure she believed what she was seeing. Long pale limbs stretched out from a revealing red and white kimono, dark hair framed golden eyes and red whisker marks, and finally nine white tails flitted around behind her. Now this is the nine tails that I knew, Ahri.

"I'm not sure what to think Sakura-san. I have all these memories that you have given me and now understand who you are and when you come from. Though it all feels like a dream. The thought that this boy could grow to be such a great man is quite hard to grasp. You know if you truly wish for my help that you'll have to remove the seal. Only then can I not only train him but begin to fuse our chakras like the myself of the future intended. It is a risky gamble but given what he will face in the future I understand it. The question is will he free me," the nine tails answered.

I gave the fox a devious look that she'd once told me made her proud that I had been the mate of her host, "Oh he won't have to. That's what I'm here to do, after all, how else are we supposed to learn to trust each other."

Both sides of the cage mirrored a foxy grin. I was scared out of my mind. This was the biggest gamble of the entire trip. Regardless of the bravado that I'd shown up until this point I couldn't stop the tears that poured from my eyes as I reached for the seal. I could physically feel the eagerness rolling off of the fox to be released. Sure, the Ahri that I know isn't exactly gentle or anything like that, but she didn't put off this aura of hatred. Naruto's acceptance over the years had tamed her in a way that hadn't happened yet in this time. One thing Naruto hadn't prepared me for was the hand that grabbed my wrist when I first began to peel back the seal immediately causing the nine tails back to her demon fox appearance.

"Who are you and what are you doing," the blond man said to me with an intense animosity.

Regardless of the KI the man was putting off I couldn't help but smile at the Fourth Hokage, "Well, I'm trying to save the world."

Baffled he stared at me even while responding, "What exactly does that have to do with him?"

Both the fox and I growled at that, "You see! It's people like you who are the problem Lord Fourth. You don't know anything about her and you judge her. Yes, I said her. She didn't even mean to attack the village in the first place and you know it. I know she fought against you when you tried to seal her again, but come on, who wouldn't? I don't expect you to forgive her but you don't have to. Naruto created the fuijutsu that sent me back here for a purpose and if he can trust the nine tails isn't that good enough?"

The Fourth looked flabbergasted but he rallied quickly, "I can't sense any deception in what you say, but that doesn't mean I can just trust the fox either. Man or woman doesn't matter, what matters is the hate I can feel coming off of it. You expect me to just trust hi...her when she's acting like this? It didn't seem like you were all that confident with those tears rolling down your face either. So how are you going to convince me that you're right, because if you can't I'll seal this fox away so tight that not only will she never be free but it'll prevent Naruto from ever being able to access his chakra. I don't want that, but you being here leaves me little in the way of options."

Panic set in at that moment. All of this was an unexpected development and the fox wasn't helping. Not only was she not saying anything helpful but it was true that she did have some KI rolling off of her again from the moment the Fourth had appeared. Honestly, I could only come up with one idea.

"Lord Fourth Hokage, in the future you and I briefly met. I can't really explain it to you but both you and your wife, Kushina, asked me to watch after him and I'd never betray that. It took us a long time to have a real relationship outside of teamates and that was all of my fault. Your son is the most amazing man I've ever known and I'd never do anything to harm him," I looked away from the Hokage and walked past the bars and into the cage with the fox, "Now I know that the nine tails can't kill me in here, but if my consciousness was destroyed in here I'd live the rest of my life as a vegetable. Yes, I'm scared, but Naruto asked me to do this and I would do anything for him."

Almost in a submissive manner the fox placed it's large snout next to me and I leaned into her. She morphed once more into the woman I'd known for so long. Somehow she looked younger though I was just noticing it. Perhaps the age she appeared was somehow a reflection of Naruto's age.

The Fourth eyed us carefully, "You love him don't you?"

I teared up and nodded my head, "I do, and once upon a time, she did too."

Not that I'm brave enough to point it out, but I do believe the nine tailed fox blushed at that comment. The Fourth Hokage only smiled at the two of us as if he understood something we didn't know. Slowly he disappeared and left the fox and I alone once more.

I was about to walk out of the cage and take off the seal before a hand gently grabbed my wrist. The nine tails looked at me with uncertainty. I could tell that she was confused by the flood of memories that she'd received and was still trying to process them all. She was probably not one hundred percent sure exactly what she would do once I removed the seal, and that surprisingly put me at peace.

"You don't have to do this you know. We could wait until the boy can come here and then let him pull the seal himself. You could give me more time to adjust seal before you choose to remove it, I wouldn't blame you," I could see the fox's generosity for what it really was, she was afraid that she would betray me.

I just smiled at her and wrapped my arms around her in a hug, "I don't know how Naruto earned your trust exactly, only that it was a slow but sure process. We don't have that kind of time. If Naruto is to be strong enough to handle what is to come then he must be vastly more powerful than he was. Between you and me, we can easily make that happen, but it all begins here. It begins with trust, and love."

Without my earlier hesitation I peeled the seal away. The bars caging her in shattered like glass and brought me face to face with the most devious look I'd ever seen. I didn't even have a chance to breathe before she charged me.

I could feel the air leaving my lungs. Even with all of my strength I could get her to quit choking me. I focused all of my chakra and could barely loosen her squeeze for a moment. Begging seemed like my only option.

"Ahri," I choked out, "Can't breathe."

"Ohh! Sorry," she squeaked as she loosened up on her hug, "I just knew you could do it Sakura-chan. You were always such a good girl. My mind advanced almost immediately to its future state after you gave me my memories but I wanted to see what you would do. Sorry, I wasn't trying to trick you, but you'd never met me when I was like that. I just wanted to see if you really trusted Naruto and me that much."

"I'm going to have to leave soon. He can't wake up with me in here or that could lead to trouble," I said, much to her apparent distress.

"But you just got here," she whined, "Alright fine. I guess that's fine. You can leave a lot of Naruto's training to me, but you'll have to figure out how to break the ice to him. I mean, he doesn't expect me to be a good girl."

"I know," and as the words left my mouth I vanished from his seal.