Hello again
Thanks for the support! I really appreciated it! I looked over and made some minor changes to the first chapter - as you can see I am not the best writer. But this is all for fun! This is a fun hobby and I'm glad there is this great community to share my work with! :)
Anyway we are continuing to follow Sakura in her adventure (?) and Madara is having fun tormenting her. Again he might seem a little bit different than other versions in this fandom. I am making it this way because he is not quite crazy yet - no matter what Sakura thinks.
I hope you enjoy!
Cavalier
Chapter 2
Sakura glared at Madara as he mockingly held out a hand to present the closet-like room to her.
Two futons were rolled out, but the room was so tiny that they overlapped each other. The room was literally a closet and it was clear she needed to share with someone. If that someone was going to be Madara - then she was going to use this opportunity to murder him, romantic tropes be damned.
"I hope you like your stay. Yuna is a tough old bird, but don't worry she is not incontinent." Sakura glared at him with even more fury if it was even possible. Continuing to not take her seriously, Madara just laughed.
"Are you always so awful? You can't even be nice to your own family."
"Extended family." Madara corrected.
"So gracious I see." Lacing her words with sarcasm Sakura rolled her eyes. Hopefully, his bad attitude would allow her to make an ally with this Yuna. Old ladies were cute and adorable. But not dangerou; so she was unlikely to be the the most intimidating ally.
Madara gave Sakura a hard push into the room, startling her from her thoughts. Sakura's foot caught on nothing and she stumbled inside. If Sakura didn't know better she would swear the man rolled his eyes. "Just go in and sleep. We need to start early tomorrow -then you can try and kill me."
"So that is permission to actually kill you?"
"No, it is permission to try. It is hilarious that you think you would succeed."
Sakura mind whirred as she tried to come up with a smart retort. Her mind however remained vexingly blank so all she could do was huff and cross her arms like an academy aged girl. Madara smirked at her, seeing her lack of response as a sign he had won. He turned and began down the hall, either to his room or to his now-not-so-secret lair Sakura couldn't be sure.
Whatever.
Looking between the two futons she guessed that the one on the right would be hers. The right one looked to be made of a plain and coarser material than the left. Kneeling on the futon she toed off her shoes before flopping down and burying her face into the material.
Yep, this was defiantly her, unless Yuna used eau de mothballs. In gallon quantities.
As Sakura laid breathing in the musty smell of the futon, her situation slowly began to sink in. She had somehow gone back in time to the time of the first Hokage, with no idea of how she was going to get back. Sasuke was years in the future, probably cursing about the fact that she left him high and now was probably training out his frustration. And most likely not informing anyone of her disappearance. She was alone, with nothing except the clothes on her back.
This last point was probably the most disconcerting. It was strange to be here in a foreign place with nothing she could call her own. Even when she went over for a girls night at Ino's she at least brought an extra pair of clothes, a toothbrush, or at least a bag of junk food. But here there was nothing. All she had was herself.
It was a strangely lonely feeling. There was nothing for her to put away. No bag to fumble through, no items to organize in a corner. Nothing to distract her from the, possibly, very real fact that she was lost in the past.
The door behind her slid open. Sakura jerked up, and twisted herself up and around to face the door. A severe and elderly looking woman stood just outside the door a bundle held under her sagging breasts. Sakura recognized her from the hallway earlier.
"So you're the vagabond that Madara-sama has decided to take in." The manner in which she said that made it fairly clear that this woman had no great respect for her. It was looking like her potential ally was not panning out the way she imagined. Sakura started to explain herself, but before even the first syllable was out the woman raised her hand to stop her.
"I am Yuna. I don't want to know, and I don't care what your story is. If you think you can use me to get to Madara-sama you are as dumb as you look because I have this family long before you were born. Now. Shut your mouth before something flies in there and makes it home in that empty head of yours."
Sakura snapped her jaw shut and glared at the woman. Yep, the ally idea was not going to work. Maybe being horrible rude was a common trait of the Uchiha. She loved Sasuke, so she could let it slide with him. But why did every Uchiha not have a filter?.
"Good. Now you found your bed. You need to roll it up and lay out your own bedding from now on - I'm not your grandmother - nor am I your servant. So stand up and come here and take these." Yuna lifted the bundle in her arms in gesture to them.
Following the old woman's commands quickly she scrambled to her feet and to the door grabbing at the bundle as the woman tossed it in her general direction. Gathering up what was only a towel she squeezed it into her chest. She never thought of herself as a materialistic girl, but it was so good to have stuff.
"Now, hurry up girl. The baths are this way. I don't have any time for laziness or lounging - we both have a busy day tomorrow." That was clear. The old woman was already walking away and was talking to Sakura over her shoulder.
"My name is Sakura." She called out the door as she slipped on her shoes.
It didn't seem as if Yuna cared. When Sakura caught up to Yuna she started again. "Also, girl, loitering the the baths is not tolerated in this compound. We Uchiha value efficiency and self control. Do you understand girl?"
"It's Sakura." Her annoyance was clear in her tone. You would think the Uchiha would have the self control to reign in all that self-importance.
The woman only grunted and continued down the hall leading Sakura to the baths.
-.-.-.-.-
"Wake up. Now." The sharp voice that broke her sleep was accompanied by a swift kick to her side.
Sakura groaned and clutched her side (more for dramatic effect than actual pain). Rolling over she glared up at the intruder. The face of Madara, soon to be rogue nin and hopeful candidate for world domination, stared down at her haloed by his mass of black hair. The evilness of his smirk was enhanced from the light of the hallway. It must be ass crack o'clock in the morning - and no one should look so happy or awake no matter how evil they were.
Sakura glanced over at Yuna's futon hoping the old woman was awake to inflict her ill temper on Madara. The futon was already rolled up and pushed to the side.
And there goes hoping that yesterday was a bad dream.
"Why?" Sakura groaned as she turned back and buried her head into her pillow.
"I didn't realize you were an idiot as well as a liar." He must have bent down as his voice was louder in her ear. "Hashirama and I decided you will work with me during your probation period in case you need to be….put down."
Sakura turned her head to look at him. "Now look who is the liar now."
The smile dropped from his lips and he reached down to her blanket and pulled it up, the cool air of the early morning rushing over her exposed skin. She had stripped down to her underwear the night before. If she had knew an angry Uchiha would be accosting her at such an ungodly hour she would have lived with the two day stink.
"Up. Now."
Not wasting the moment she swung her leg out, aiming to knock him over by sweeping his legs out from under him. She must have telegraphed her movements as he easily jumped back. Carrying on the momentum of her left leg, she half rolled to swing her right leg out. Again, targeting his legs.
Again he jumped back. Rotating again she planted her right leg and struck up at his chin with the her heel. He must have not expected her do that as his eyes widen in shock. However the strike was anticlimactic as she missed his jaw. He was taller than she thought and her heel lamely hit his chest at the wrong angle.
Madara caught her heel before she could drop her leg. Holding her leg up at his shoulder, he forced her to hop in place as she tried to regain her balance in this award split.
Madara stared at her; hopping in place on one foot, red faced, in her underwear.
"God-damn, moose sized pervert."
Sakura was never good at insults.
Madara threw his head back and laughed. Sakura wanted to slap him, but she couldn't reach him. Taking advantage of his relaxed grip she fell back to try to wrench her ankle from his grip. He must have felt her try to break away as he pushed her. Unbalanced she fell back onto the floor much harder than she wanted. Sakura sprawled on the floor, slightly winded from the impact. The bastard, he didn't do what she expected. If only she hadn't skipped the training sessions with Ino, maybe she wouldn't be so rusty at this.
"You know you can always just ask." Madara baited coolly.
"Get. Out."
-.-.-.-.-
Madara had let her get dressed in peace. She was in mixed opinion of the grandma pants that Yuna-san had left for her. (Well,l she hoped Yuna left them. Otherwise she had just lifted them.) It was a nice to change, and she didn't feel as so vulnerable; but the small blue flowers on a pink-brown background clashed horribly with her black shirt. The smirk that Madara gave her when she finally came out confirmed that she looked as hideous as she felt.
When they left the complex Sakura was not surprised to see that no one was awake yet. She trudged after Madara, purposefully shuffling her feet. The village was smaller than she expected. Outside of the Uchiha compound a few houses were constructed here and there. None of them looked familiar and all were clearly new. The village must have been very new. Maybe just formed. Looking at the gaps between the houses she missed the height of Konoha and the shops. The only shopping area was an open air market where empty stands were being slowly filled by farmers with their produce. Clearly nothing permanent was set up.
As the made their way through the sleeping Konoha no one stopped them. The three people they had come across had become occupied with finding something on the ground. Not that it really bothered Sakura. This way she didn't need to answer questions.
The village ended earlier than in her time, and they quickly made their way into the forest surrounding Konoha. Madara led the way clearly on a mission. Was he going to kill her? Was he going to tell her to go back to Whirlpool? Both options would not work well for her. She needed to stay here, near the door and room that transported her to this time in the first place.
When Sakura was about to speak up to ask where they were going they broke the tree line. Stretching in each direction was the skeleton of what would be the outer wall of Konoha. Farther down on her right, straw and clay had been patched over a framework completing the wall. The closer to where they were standing the more the less complex the framework became until it was just the main structural components. Periodically a pile of wood planks sat ready to be installed.
"We are going to work on the wall for the village. As you want to make this your new home you might as well take some investment in protecting it."
"How do you know I won't sabotage the wall?" Immediately after Sakura asked that she wished she could take it back. She was being catty with him, but she needed to stop before he started to really believe her.
Madara examined her face with narrowed eyes, as if trying to see if she was being serious. Which she wasn't.
"Well, I suppose if you do at least you will do so with regret after all the work you put into this."
Sakura laughed dryly. "So should I start patching?"
"No. The Uchiha clan is in charge of completing the framework. Since you are under my charge, you will help with that. Besides, I said I am going to make sure you would regret tearing down this wall."
Looking between the wall and the boards she raised a eyebrow in question. Each of the planks would be about 100 pounds - it would be a tough process lugging them up the wall even with two of them.
"Don't just stare. Get to work." Madara spoke as he walked ahead to the closest wood pile. Sakura made a face and mimicked his words silently as she followed behind him. He tossed her a workman's belt with a hammer with an attached pocket for nails. She fitted the belt around her hips and walked to the opposite side of the pile and picked up one end of a board, expecting Madara to take the other. Without acknowledging her he simply picked a different one and hoisted it to his shoulder. Flabbergasted she watched as he walked it to the bottom of the wall and began fitting it.
"Seriously?" Sakura questioned to Madara. He didn't hear her over the pounding of the hammer, or he chose not to hear her. Sighing she repositioned herself and grabbed the board, pushing chakra into her arms she lifted it up to her shoulders. Going to the section next to Madara she started to fit it into place like he had but stopped when he pointed his hammer accusingly at her.
"Take it up top. We need to do the whole wall not just the bottom." Sakura opened her mouth to say something but he interrupted. "Don't tell me you can't do it. You have the strength of ten men, you can go to the top and fit it."
Not knowing how to rebut him without either diminishing her own strength or the abilities of women she simply reset the board to her shoulder and began climbing.
Think of it as a practice in chakra control; Tsunade would be proud.
They continued in silence for at least a good two hours. Sakura placing the boards at the top, Madara placing them at the bottom. He was going faster already having already reached the next major support pillar. While she was barely had done a third of what he had done. As Sakura climbed down for another board a group of villagers emerged from the forest.
"Madara-sama!" One of the men called out waving to them. Madara threw down the board that he had just grabbed and waited at the bottom of the wall as the group approached. Dropping down next to Madara, Sakura smirked to herself when she saw that his breath was labored and he had sweated through his shirt.
In the group there were about twenty men total. A good majority of them were clearly Uchiha, each with dark hair and black eyes and an expression like they just ate lemon. (Maybe it was just her mood with Madara that was coloring this.) The rest were a mismatch she didn't recognize, except one particularly large man with chubby cheeks she was certain was some ancestor of Choji.
A bald man step forward from the group, clearly at ease with his surrounds. The man scratched the back of his head as he lifted his other hand in greeting.
"You are up early Madara-sama."
The man glanced at Sakura and she felt a surge of adrenaline course through her veins, but as quickly as it started it ended. Sakura watched him closely as he shifted his gaze between Madara and herself but the feeling didn't come back. She looked to the group behind the bald man, trying to figure out who had such bloodlust.
"I see you have already made good progress for us this morning." The man addressed Madara, though Sakura's attention was on the group behind him. Some of the men gave her a once over but none seemed suspicious.
"The Uchiha had promised to work on the framework in the last council meeting." Madara said dismissively.
"Yes, er, that is true - but, you see - it's a lot of work. It is unfair that the Uchiha clan is only doing the heavy lifting. We we decided to break it up in shifts. Better for the back you know." The bald man stretched to one side as if to show his point.
Madara stared at the man expressionlessly. This was clearly news to Madara, and for someone who should be a leader of the village it would be embarrassing that he didn't know what was going on. Sakura wondered what he could be thinking. Did he think it was a obviously good idea but didn't want to say anything? Was he insulted that others decided what the Uchiha's were to do? Murder? Who knew.
The bald man seemed to be the de facto leader as no one else spoke up. From Madara's constipated look it was clear that he was uncomfortable with the fact. If it was because the Uchiha were not stepping up to take control or because he didn't know him, Sakura wasn't sure.
The man looked between Madara and Sakura clearly eager for an introduction. Sakura looked hesitantly at Madara. Was he really going to be that awkward and not introduce her? He never seemed to have any problem talking when he was trying to taunt her. The silence stretched too long to be normal and so Sakura and the man ignored Madara and jerked forward to offer a handshake.
"I'm Sakura."
"I'm Saitama."
"Nice to meet you."
Saitama nodded his head in agreement. "If you would like you can go back to the village now. We got this now."
Sakura smiled triumphantly, turning to Madara with the same grin as she responded. "Why thank you. I think I will. There does seem like a lot of people here now, maybe I'll lay-"
"No." Madara finally spoke up. He shot a hand out to grasp Sakura's shoulder in a vice hold as if he was worried she was planning to bolt.
"Really, we got this." Saitama tried to placate Madara. "This is really physical work. I don't think it work is really appropriate for a woman."
Sakura's head snapped to Saitama.
Oh no he didn't.
"No actually, Madara is right. I was given this task. I maybe just a humble woman but I should help out in any way I can." She said this sarcastically as she reached for the plank Madara had dropped earlier and lifted it to her shoulder with one hand. It was overkill, and she could feel the drain on her chakra but she didn't drop it. Without another word she turned on her heel, not caring if some of them had to duck.
With one arm she started to climb, pushing more chakra to her muscles to make her ascent seem as effortless as possible. Sakura looked over her shoulder and saw to her pleasure that every man stood there awestruck. When she slide her gaze to Madara the happy feeling went away at the sight of his smirk. Sakura had walked right into his palm - shit.
Sakura flushed and started to place the board. Why were things so off with her - she was smart she came up with plans. But here she was being toyed with by Madara. Sakura gritted her teeth as she swung the hammer down hard.
With the extra hep Sakura, Saitama, and another man were able to stay on top increasing their pace. Madara remind quiet on the ground and took to the task of handing her boards as they continued to progress. At first he refused to climb up very high to hand her the boards, but after her grip "slipped" causing the board hit him in the face he started to climb up a little ways to meet her.
Stopping after another hour she wedged herself into a nook rolled her capped sleeves over her shoulders and began rotating her shoulder. It was cramping bad. With the heat, the continuous weight, and chakra control this jobs was beginning to become very taxing. Sakura hadn't done so much physical training in a very long time. Chakra control yes, but actual weight training was something of the past. What medic nin needed to bulked up?
"Sakura-san, are you doing okay?" Saitama asked pausing between setting his board and hammering it in.
"Yes, it is just hot. I didn't expect it to be this warm." It was the truth, the day had warmed significantly since the morning.
"That's Konoha. Early morning in June is typically quite cool but it really heats up during the day."
"June?" Sakura asked faintly to herself in disbelief. It was September. What did it mean that it was June here? Why was she thrown back in time more than 80 years but also be deposited in a different month?
Saitama didn't hear her, and continued. "Where did you come from. You obviously don't know about our weather."
Sakura saw Madara's head tilt towards her as he rested a plank against the wall at the bottom.
Suspicious bastard.
"Whirlpool. I was looking for a change of scenery."
"Ah, that must be nice. By the beach isn't it?" Luckily she didn't have to respond as he continued his questions. "What were you doing before? I assume it wasn't building walls or constructing buildings."
"No, I didn't - but I don't think I am that bad at it." Sakura shot back somewhat teasingly. She wasn't sure about this Saitama. He seemed nice, if a bit old fashioned. Saitama laughed and shook his head, smiling.
"You are quite good. I was talking before with the others of starting a construction company. When I do I will call you to join."
Sakura smiled at that. "Were you a ninja before an entrepreneur? Or was construction always your passion?"
"I am a ninja. I and some others worked for a crime boss before we joined here. So far it seems like it will be a bit more peaceful - if not as profitable." He glanced down at the last part to Madara checking to see if he had heard. Sakura looked down too, but Madara had moved back to the pile. He had accumulated three planks already underneath her.
Rolling her eyes at the 'subtle' hint to continue working she dropped down. Wincing slightly at the impact, she paused and pushed chakra into her abused joints. She was going to be sore after today. Selecting a plank she started up again, pushing her chakra into holding the board rather than climbing. Reaching the top she fitted it in. Saitama had finished hammering his in place, and as she settled the wood in he leaned back holding himself up from falling only by one arm holding to the framework.
"So really, what did you do Sakura-san?" Saitama asked. She glanced over at the man, looking over his posture. It was clear he was interested in her.
Thanks, but no thanks. I have a boyfriend. He just isn't born yet - but that doesn't mean I am avaliable.
"I was a medic nin."
"Really? Well why are you working here? We have just set up a new hospital. It is small, but we can always use more healers."
She wasn't planning on staying here very long but maybe this way she could get out of Madara's nose and try to figure out a way back. Not that she had the faintest lead in how she got here in the first place.
"That sounds nice. I would like to feel like I am doing something useful." Saitama raised his eyebrows in mock question. Realizing her mistake Sakura tried to backpedal. "Not that this isn't important. Walls are great - ya'know, keeps bad things out - good things in."
Saitama laughed, "Yes, wall good."
Sakura smiled. After everything in the last day it was nice to have this sense of camaraderie - it was what made the village home.
Saitama turned back to his work and began pounding in a nail. He shouted over his work, "My sister works at the clinic. I will ask what process you would need to go through to start."
"Thanks!" Sakura shouted back. She smiled to herself as she also focused on her work and began aiming a secondary nail.
"That won't be necessary Saitama-san, Sakura is under a suspension and will be with me until that is lifted."
Madara's voice right below her caused Sakura to fumble and drop her nail. She looked down and was surprised that Madara had climbed up the wall and was a few inches under her feet. Sakura glared at Madara but he didn't flinch as he lifted up a board he had in his free hand for her to grab. Madara was only helpful when he needed to eavesdrop.
Snatching the board quickly, Sakura glanced up at Saitama. They shared a look of equal incredulity.
"I thought the needs of the village would outweigh whatever misgivings you have for Sakura-san."
Sakura shook her head minutely, trying to tell Saitama that the argument would fall on deaf ears. However, it was too late. Sakura could practically hear Madara's teeth grind below her.
"I suggest you spend more time focusing on your task rather than trying to flirt your way into her pants. I can assure you, you don't need to try this hard. You just need to ask."
Sakura glared down at Madara as she felt her cheeks flush in anger. He was focused on Saitama, and Sakura didn't waste the opportunity. She let go of the board she was holding and watched in glee as it hit him in the shoulder. Losing his grip and his footing he swung out into the air then slammed back into the wall shaking the structure. It was too bad his other hand didn't lose it's grip.
Gasping with fake concern, Sakura leaned out and shouted down to Madara. "Oh, I am so sorry! It must have slipped. Are you okay? - I must be allergic to jerk-offs." Cocking her head to the side she deadpanned the last part.
He glared at her. Rolling her eyes she focused back on her task, anger fueling her hits on the nail.
"Bastard." Saitama muttered and Sakura smirked and rolled her shoulders.
Continuing her task, Sakura ignored the dark cloud that was Madara beneath her. She purposefully ignored him as she climbed down and grabbed more boards and climbed back up. No matter how much he glared at her, she was done. Enough was enough.
They continued in moody silence until the chubby cheek man called out from the base of the wall.
"Lunch time."
The men working lower dropped their loads and headed towards the tree line. Sakura finished hammering one last nail before she turned and looked to see where the others were going.
Hashirama and three women emerged from the forest each carrying baskets and jars. Sakura knew then that the man was definitely an Akimichi. There was no way he could have seen them much earlier.
Sakura dropped down from the wall. Saitama landed soundlessly next to her, she looked over at him impressed. The bald man smiled brightly and jerked his head to the women not waiting for Sakura. Her eyes snapped to Madara as he bee lined for Hashirama ignoring the rest of the men as the gathered around the women. Sakura followed Saitama and waited with the rest of the men as they were handed boxes presumably full of food, as well as a clay cup with water.
Water bottles, oh, how she missed them.
Taking a box and cup from a narrowed eyed woman she settled under a nearby tree. Ignoring the food she lay down and stretched her arms over her head. She hadn't done this much physical work in a long time. She was going to get man arms at this rate.
"Sakura-chan! How is work treating you?" Hashirama asked as he and Madara sat next to her forming a loose circle.
"Beautifully." Sakura deadpanned as she struggled back up to a sitting position.
Hashirama grinned at her as he opened his boxed lunch. "I am glad to hear it. Don't be shy and eat up; Suri-san makes great chicken."
Opening her lunchbox she began to dig in.
"Hashirama-sama, why don't you complete the wall?" Sakura asked over a mouthful of rice.
Hashirama threw his head and laughed, "I am glad my reputation has preceded me all the way to Whirlpool."
Madara glared at Hashirama but even Sakura could see there was no heat in it. "You are too modest about your abilities. And really you know too much for an immigrant."
"Preparation, Study, Plan. Three things to live by to be a ninja." Sakura shot back around a mouthful of food. The chicken was delicious.
"Yes, a living ninja." Hashirama teased.
"Then you should maybe take that advice and be a little less impulsive to inviting every orphan, vagabond, and weak willed clan to this village."
Sakura wished she could strangle Madara. It was just a day but already the 'I don't trust you' line was old.
"That might be true but we meet much less interesting people your way." Madara grunted at Hashirama's words, his focus back on his meal. "But to answer your question Sakura. There is a time to take the shortcut and a time to take the hard way. We are a new village, made up in majority by two clans that have been enemies. What we need now is unity, and nothing can accomplish that better than hard work. This should be a village that defines all of us and not just me."
"It is not about the strength of the individual but the strength of the village." Madara spoke up.
"That is rich coming from you." The words were out of Sakura's mouth before she could stop them.
"What is that suppose to mean?!" Madara leaned forward threateningly.
Her anger carried her words even though it was logical to be quiet. "All you are interested in is number one. You don't care who loses as long as it fits your ideals."
"I don't expect a pink fluff like you to understand." Madara scoffed.
"Power hungry asshole."
"Sakura-san." Hashirama held out a hand placatingly to Sakura.
"This village is an opportunity for order, for leadership, to keep us all safe. So that we never have to ask children go to war." When Sakura looked into his eyes she saw honest conviction in the village. It was a look that she had seen in Naruto's eyes before. This shocked her - the Madara she thought she knew, thought the village system had failed. He was spiteful and believed in making himself stronger. Never would she had thought to compare Madara to Naruto.
Sakura cleared her throat, turning her attention back to her food as her initial anger at Madara quickly fizzled out into shame at her preconceived notions. "Who would guess you were such an idealist, Madara."
"Madara-sama, Hashirama-sama." Saitama interrupted, bowing to the two men. "Can I have a moment of your time to look over our supplies? I am concerned we won't complete the wall."
Hashirama moved to stand but Madara waved him to stay as he fluidly stood. "You are awful with money. You won't understand how much trouble we are getting in."
Hashirama smiled and raised a hand in thanks and the two men went off down the wall. Sakura chewed slowly on her bite as she considered how to ask her question.
"Hashirama-sama, Saitama-san told me that there was a hospital that you were planning on opening." She let the statement hang in the air before continuing. "I was a medic at home and I was wondering if I possibly offer my skills. They would be put to much better use at the clinic than on building this wall."
Hashirama considered her for a moment before speaking. "Madara heard this and told you no?"
"Yes, but he is not seeing reason. He is a very suspicious person-"
"No. I agree with Madara. I appreciate that you offer help, but I should be more cautious. I do not know you and it would be a misstep to trust someone I don't know with the lives of the people in this village."
"But-" Sakura cut herself off as Hashirama shook his head.
"I trust Madara. He is a good leader; he is fair, cautious, and truly tries protect the people in his clan and of this village. If he thinks it is too soon, I will respect what he says."
Sakura wanted to protest but Hashirama stood and gathering his meal he went back to the women.
-.-.-.-.-
Successfully isolating herself from Hashirama and Madara, the rest of the day stretched on. Madara and Sakura didn't exchange words as they started in patching the wall with the cement mixture. They worked together without making eye contact or speaking. Earlier Sakura would have like the peace, but the guilt of her earlier words nagged at her. This Madara seemed so different from who she knew him as.
The work crew continued until sunset, when they finally broke for the day. Sakura kept quiet as they followed the group through the woods. She let the casual conversation around her fill the awkward void that was forming between herself and Madara. Madara didn't talk to any of his clansmen and Sakura kept silent next to him. Madara kept quiet as the group slowly broke off until it was Sakura and the Uchiha clansmen. It was only when they reached the compound that Madara said anything, though it was a simple bid goodnight.
Following Madara into the main house, Sakura tensed waiting for Madara to turn around and berate or belittle her. But he kept quiet, his pace never slowing as he lead the way to her room. Sakura paused in front of the doorway to her room thinking now Madara would turn and say something about how she couldn't be trusted. But Sakura only watched as Madara continued down the hall and turned the corner without slowing.
Sakura puffed out a sigh and opened the door, the cackle that greeted her was something else she didn't expect. Yuna sat cross legged in the middle of the room, her hair wound up in a towel, clutching a fistfull of cards. Three other elderly women were in the room all laughing as one of them pulled in a pile of nicknacks. It was clear that Yuna must have lost something valuable from the sour expression on her face.
"Umm.." Sakura started, unsure if they could hear her. Yuna eyes flashed up to Sakura, the distaste not abating as Yuna took Sakura. She was sweaty, dirty, probably flushed from the sun, and definitely not in whatever standard Yuna wanted her to be in. They other women quieted and turned following their friends gaze. Sizing Sakura up they clearly came to the same unimpressed conclusion as Yuna had.
The woman to the left of Yuna (who was sitting on her futon! - with what looked like a recent sake stain by her left knee) reached for Sakura's towel that was folded at the end of the mat and threw it at her.
"Get cleaned up. You look like a dirty vagabond." The unnamed woman barked. It was apparently a joke as the four women roared with laughter. Sakura blinked owlishly - it wasn't even funny - but she stepped back and slid the door closed. Muffled laughter started up again. In some strange sense this blant display of disrespect was comforting. Smiling to herself she shuffled off to the baths.
Thank you all for reading!
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