A few weeks later Sakura was sent on her first mission even as her brothers protested "Onii-sama" Sakura turned her emerald eyes on her oldest brother "A mission is a mission, besides, I'm really good at collecting herbs" Sakura pointed out bluntly.
Biting the inside of his cheek, Madara stilled his tongue, now was not a good time to get into an argument with his sister "Just be safe for kami's sake" Izuna had no problem warning his sister about potential dangers outside the half finished village.
"I promise Izuna-ni" Sakura sent him a smile before shouldering her basket for herbs and with a little wave headed out the door of their home, sliding the door shut a moment later, the minute she was gone Madara threw his hands in the air and growled in displeasure at the situation.
Izuna eyed his brother warily and inched away from him "Madara-ni is everything alright" he prodded lightly, who knew how angry his brother was right now, and it's not like Madara was the only one pissed off about the situation they were now stuck in.
"No, I hate that Sakura has to go out and do things to do her part for the village" Madara flopped down in a chair and poured himself a cup of coffee, lately the construction on the village had gotten more time consuming, and he wondered when the village would be finished so he could relax.
Izuna pressed his lips together "I don't like it either Madara-ni, but that was one of the stipulations, if a situation came up that Sakura was more qualified for, then she would be sent out" he slammed his head on the table with a groan.
Outside the village, Sakura had headed straight for the forest, mapping out well known area's that grew herbs in abundance, in her head, it only took forty minutes to reach the clearing when she finally did though Sakura immediately got to work.
An hour later she still wasn't finished, so Sakura sat down and pulled out an apple and a bottle of water, feeling eyes on her Sakura fiddled with the kunai strapped to her arm "Who's there" she called out warily and the bushes on her left rustled.
Tossing her kunai and pulling out the second a beautiful young woman with red hair appeared before Sakura's very eyes, holding her dark blue tinted kunai delicately in the palm of her hand "Pardon the intrusion, but I couldn't help but notice your unusual hair" the woman smiled disarmingly.
Sakura though remained wary, she could feel this woman's massive chakra "What about my pink hair" she was a little miffed that a stranger had approached her only to have a talk about her hair, it was completely ridiculous and Sakura didn't believe it for a second.
"I'm Mito Uzumaki, and as you can see I have red hair, not like all the others in the world" Mito introduced herself and sat down on a rock primly, Sakura's kunai hanging limply in her hand waiting for the young child to take it back.
At the name Sakura's jaw dropped 'By the kami it's Tsunade's grandmother' her mind supplied instantaneously, no longer wary because Sakura knew that in the very distant hopeful future this woman would marry Hashirama.
Mito watched the pink haired girl silently walk towards her and grasp her kunai, then to her fascination attach it to a strap wound around her arm and hidden by the long sleeves of her battle kimono "I've told you my name now will you tell me yours" Mito asked when the silence got to her.
Sitting down on the nearest patch of grass she could find Sakura had an internal debate with her inner self 'You can't tell her Saku-chan, remember the rules, never reveal your last name' Inner pointed out harshly and Sakura flinched inwardly.
'Yes but she revealed her full name first so it's only fair that I return the favor, I don't think Mito-sama is the type to attack a child even if that child were to be an enemy' Sakura argued back, she thought that her side of the argument had more promise.
Inner gave up and faded but Sakura knew that it wasn't the last she had heard from her inner self "Sakura Uchiha, Uzumaki-sama" Sakura introduced herself finally and Mito gasped in surprise though she made no move to attack.
"Your of the Uchiha clan, what of the sharigan then do you have it as well" Mito inquired, she couldn't help it, the girl was an absolute cutie and well her hair stood out like a beacon in the green vegetation of the forest.
Sakura nodded "That's right, and yes," she activated her sharigan for Mito before deactivating it "If I may ask Uzumaki-sama, but what are you doing so far away from your home land" Sakura smiled sheepishly when Mito gave her a strange look.
"Well to be honest Sakura-san, my Father decided that I should travel to the newly forming village and offer their leader a treaty, and you can call me Mito-chan" Mito sent Sakura a look hoping to get her point across so that Sakura didn't call her Uzumaki-sama again.
Sakura's green eyes lit up "A treaty with Hashirama-san, I think he would like that very much" she clapped her hands together in excitement "And I understand Mito-chan" Sakura hesitantly called out and Mito smiled kindly at her.
"Now tell me how it was that you were born with pink hair and green eyes unlike your clansmen who only have black hair and those soulless onyx eyes" Mito rushed her question out, the last thing she wanted to do was offend Sakura with her description of the girls clansmen.
Sakura giggled nervously "That's kind of a difficult story to explain and one I can't tell you just yet, maybe in the future Mito-chan, I'll be able to reveal my secrets but for now it will be just that" she idly twirled a blade of grass between her fingers as she spoke.
Mito gave Sakura an appraising look "Your a strange one and I like you" Mito finally stated and she could tell that it shocked Sakura, though she had no idea, Mito let it be for now "Would you like help" she asked suddenly.
At that Sakura remembered her mission and cursed herself for letting Mito distract her for a whole hour "Ah, I'm almost finished Mito-chan, though when I go back you may come with me and I'll introduce you to Hashirama-san" Sakura hurriedly got back to her task.
Shrugging Mito let Sakura work and another hour later, the pinkette finally stood shouldering her basket "Ready then" she asked and Sakura nodded with a bright smile on her face, it was obvious that she was looking forward to returning to her village.
"Yep" Sakura quipped with barely restrained happiness, she was going to witness the first meeting between Hashirama and Mito, and get to be there every step of their courtship and when they got married and had children and then their children had children.
Sakura shook her head, she was getting ahead of herself, she might not even be around by the time Tsunade was born, because the life of a ninja was a dangerous one and you always encountered death no matter how much you wished you didn't have to.
Entering the village the two females had no problems and it was easier to find Hashirama who was sitting in the office that had been created for the future leader, he was only acting as the temporary one until someone was decided on.
"Sakura-chan" Hashirama jumped up only to stop mid stride, his eyes landed on the gorgeous red head standing behind the pinkette "And who are you if I may ask" Hashirama coughed into his hand and his cheeks flushed a spectacular red.
Mito raised one slender brow before dissolving into un-lady like giggles, "I see what you mean Sakura-san, he is most amusing" she addressed the girl at her side before clearing her throat delicately "And as for your inquiry to who I am, I am Mito Uzumaki" Mito held out her hand expectantly.
Sakura grinned as Hashirama became a bumbling rambling idiot, though he awkwardly took Mito's hand and pressed a light kiss to her knuckles "And as you've probably already been told, I am Hashirama Senju acting leader of this village" Hashirama admitted sheepishly.
When he said that he sent Sakura an exasperated smile "Did you complete your mission" Hashirama suddenly remembered and the pinkette nodded her head eagerly gesturing to the basket that was full to the brim with every herb, root, and leaf she could find that was medicinal.
"Of course, just cause I'm eleven Hashirama-san, doesn't mean I don't know how to find herbs" Sakura sent him a secret knowing smile and Hashirama immediately understood what it was that she was trying to say.
"Good, good, just put those over there and your free to go" Hashirama waved his hand absentmindedly as he focused on Mito again, right then he decided that this woman would be his wife and thus it began.
