Consciousness slowly began to seep into her mind as she felt the darkness begin to fade. She could feel it, the dull ache that ran through her muscles as she became more aware of her body. It was like she was submerged deep under water and was slowly beginning to rise to the surface.

Acute cause of chakra exhaustion.

She knew what it was before her mind was even fully alert. In all the years she had been on the run Sakura had made sure to minimize the chances of depleting her chakra reserves to such an extend. It was a hard lesson to learn as someone who grew up pumping their chakra to heal the sick and wounded. However over the years she had been placed in too many situation that called for her to walk away from someones pain so that she could retain her chakra. She wasn't proud of it but she was still alive and that's all that mattered.

Although she was aware of her surrounding Sakura couldn't bring herself to open her eyes. It was like electricity ran through her body every time she attempted to move so for a long while she just laid still listening to her surroundings.

There was the gentle song bluebirds sang in the spring and a light breeze that brought with it the scent of flowers and rain. Waterfall Country was beautiful in the spring and during the years it had become one of her favourite places to visit. It was a dangerous and hostile place but there were moments in the winter where she would dream of spending a spring in Waterfall. Everywhere in the shinobi world was dangerous, but at least Waterfall was beautiful.

From the way the breeze danced over her face and the birds echoed Sakura knew she was in some sort of room. She didn't register it at first but now she felt it; the soft cushion of a futon, the warmth of the blanket that was draped over her body. It helped soothe her aching muscles as she relaxed against the first soft pillow she had rested on in months. It was almost too comfortable for her to comprehend and all she wanted was to let the calm spring air lull her back to the sleep her body so desperately needed.

But reality was always a cruel thing shining its harsh light against the darkness that promised her a restful sleep. Sakura needed to get up. Pain or not, she didn't know how long she had been unconscious for, where she was, and most importantly; how close Konoha was on her trail.

It took a while as she opened her eyes adjusting to the soft glow of the fading afternoon light. Maneuvering herself into a sitting position she looked around the small cabin room she found herself in. Cascading in the golden light of the sunset that was to come the room around her was old and made from dark wood. It had been aged by the heavy rains of Waterfall and other than the futon she was currently resting on there was nothing else in the room. She couldn't sense anyone as she stretched her chakra out searching for life. The cabin was empty and the light hum of chakra around her was from the forest life that surrounded the cabin.

Vulnerable. That's was Sakura was.

For the first time in a long time Sakura felt the dull ache of fear crawl into her heart. She didn't like the feeling, didn't like being the prey in the game of cat and mouse she used to play against Konoha. Getting up from the futon she steadied herself against a wall as she felt her strength begin to return to her body. She had recovered about half of her chakra. Although it wasn't ideal it was still better then before.

Sakura made her way out of the room and through the small cabin. There wasn't much to see. Minimal furniture and no personal belongs of the person who lived here.

I should retrace my steps, she thought to herself as the memories of her jutsu going wrong was still fresh in her mind. Somewhere deep in the part of her soul where she kept her heartache she knew what if she travelled back to where she first landed she would find Tsunade's dead body.

Sakura knew it wasn't wise to go back but what choice did she have, she needed to know where Tsunade had met her fate, where her final resting place was. She needed to see her one last time and then she knew she could move on. She planned to disappear like she had eight years ago, but this time she had no plans of ever resurfacing.

As she made her way to the door two rapidly approaching chakra signature alerted her that she was no longer alone. It was like all the pain and tightness in her muscles evaporated as she quickly made her way outside. Her style of combat was alway best suited for outdoors so she knew it was best not to get trapped in the close quarters of the cabin.

With half of her chakra Sakura knew she could but up a decent fight. Two against one were not bad odds she thought as she waited for her aislantes to break through the forest canopy.

Her heart began to beat faster as it always did before every battle. Sakura would have to be strategic on how she fought and used her chakra. Her plan was to incapacitate them as soon as she could so that she could get away. She wasn't in the mood for killing or drawing on what little of her chakra she had. Her main objective was to escape and get as far from Konoha as possible.

As the trees thinned Sakura saw a man drop down into the clearing that surrounded the cabin. His age was the first thing that Sakura noticed. He had long gray hair that cascaded past his shoulders and blew in the afternoon wind. She could tell immediately he was a shinobi, and an experienced one at that. It was in the way he carried himself, so similar to the grace of experienced shinobi's like Kakashi or Itachi. It was calm and calculating which immediately putting her on alter.

The man stopped when he saw her waiting outside of the cabin as he stood at the edge of the clearing furthest from where she was. It was quick, and expression she almost missed, but his face seemed surprised for a moment as if he didn't expect to see her. The man had age and experience on his side but that didn't matter to Sakura, all she had to do was touch him with her chakra to leave in incapacitated. Hopefully he was a close range fighter but if not she would just have to be patient and wait for an opening.

Her attention was so trained on the man before her that she almost missed the second person as they stepped out from the forest after him. She turned to see who the other person was when her green eyes caught the hazel ones that stared back at her.

It was like all the air had left her lungs at once leaving her whole body froze.

"Tsunade" she whispered, her voice so weak it could barely be heard over the gentle wind.

It felt like time had stopped. That Sakura was in one of those vivid dreams she had when she first left Konoha. The ones that were so real she woke up in tears because of its clarity, its reminder of everything she had lost. It had been years since she dreamed this vividly, but the Tsunade standing before her looked so real; she could see the green specks of colour in her hazel eyes, the different shade of blonde that ran through her hair. She could see this Tsunade smiling at her as she said her name. Sakura she hears her say and its enough to make her eyes sting with tears because it's all too real.

But this isn't real, her thoughts whisper, and even as she battles with herself she watched in awe as Tsunade slowly began to walk across the clearing to her. Parts of her screams that this is a genjutsu, that all of this was a lie created by the man in front of her. But she didn't care if it was. Even the most powerful Sharingan couldn't create a Tsunade this beautiful, this alive.

Tsunade walked up to her and slowly reached out to brush the tears that had begun to fall from her face. It was the familiarity of her touch that caused all of Sakura's emotions to well up inside. In another life she remembered Tsunade brushing away her tears when she pushed herself too far, comforting her when she thought she wasn't good enough. But that life died a long time ago and now she was forced to relive the comfort through this warped reality.

Slowly, as if she is afraid Sakura might break, Tsunade cradled her face between her hands and rested their forehead against each other.

It is too much for Sakura to bare so "kai" she softly whispered as she closed her eyes to enjoy the last moments of their embrace. She didn't want to but she knew that this genjutsu had gone too far and it already hurts too much. But it didn't break. She could still feel her. Sakura says it a little louder with more chakra behind it because now this genjutsu had become cruel - but still it didn't break.

Sakura began to think that maybe she wasn't strong enough, that maybe this was a jutsu she had never encountered so she lifted her head and stared at Tsunade one last time before she tried to break whatever horrible jutsu this was again.

Tsunade looked back at her, her eyes brighter than anything Sakura could remembers and a small smile forms against her lips.

"Its real Sakura" she said calmly as she looked into her green eyes. "I'm real".

Sakura looked at her like it is the first time she was actually seeing her, and there were just so many question she had but she could barely speak, barely keep upright. They both watched each other for a while both in awe of the person standing before them. Sakura was the same height as Tsunade now and the older woman couldn't believe the beautiful women that stood before her. Sakura became everything she never thought she would see again.

But for Sakura it was too much. All of this was to much for her to handle.

If there was a way that Sakura could chose death at that moment she knew would because at that moment she knew that this was real. That she was awake, that her jutsu had worked, and she had a living Tsunade in her arms.

Maybe this was worse than a genjutsu, because in a genjutsu she could chose to remember all the beautiful parts of her mentors. Not the ugly reality that was interwoven with her existence.

"Tsunade" Sakura says, her voice thick with all the emotions that swirled inside her. "Let go of me."

It took a moment as Sakura watched the confusion register in Tsunade's face but "let me go" she repeats after a moment her voice dropping the emotions it held earlier.

Tsunade took a step back as the afternoon wind picked up between them. It was odd, she felt like she was standing before someone that resembled the Sakura she knew. But this version of her was so cold, so detached so… different. It was like a mask had settled on Sakura's face hiding all the emotions that were openly on display a moment ago. This wasn't the girl she remembered.

"I am glad your alive" Sakura said her voice feeling empty as she also took a step back her eyes refocusing on the man that still stood in the clearing.

Tsunade was alive, that much was clear to her but the reality was quickly overshadowed by the past. Sakura had done more than she ever thought possible and whatever debt she felt like she owed Tsunade for being her mentor, for making her the person she was; that debt was repaid. It was like a flip had been switched and she went back to the person she had been for the last eight years and Sakura was ready to walk away and try and forget this god awful day. She had already felt more emotions in one day than she had in the past few years. She knew she couldn't dwell on it, that she had to push Naruto's face from her mind, she had to bury the feeling of have Tsunade's arms around her.

She looked at her, watched as the the joy vanished from her face to be replaced with confusion, but Sakura knew she couldn't care.

"Konoha's forces will be on your trail. Be sure to stay away from major villages and roads" she said. "Keep your healing abilities to a minimum because they will track reports of medic-nin's first so it would be wise to refrain from helping people".

"Sakura what are you -"

"It was good seeing you" Sakura interrupted, lightly resting her hand on Tsunade's shoulder.

She started to move past Tsunade's stunned expression while keeping an eye on the man casually stool in the clearing. He had not moved during their entire encounture so it was clear that he did not want to engage in a fight. Sakura was thankful for that. The more chakra she got to keep the faster she could lose Konoha's trail.

She looked back at Tsunade who was staring at her, the hurt on her face evident. It wasn't her place, but Sakura hoped Tsunade would one day understand. That she would know that this isn't the life she wanted but the one that she was chosen for her and looking at Tsunade's face brought back too many emotions of rage and heartache.

A part of her would miss her dearly, probably more now that she had held her in her arms, but Sakura had left a lot behind already and although it would hurt she knew she could leave Tsunade behind too.

Sakura stared at Tsunade's face one last time committing the memory to her mind.

"Goodbye Tsunade-sama" she whispered. Forever was the part she said to herself.

xxxx. xxxx