The Chosen One Chapter 21, a naruto fanfic

Sorry for the long delay~~! Finally managed to put it out into the world for you guys to read~~! Banzai!

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The nightlight was protruding into the unlit room of the Hokage Tower. The moon stood tall behind the buildings, almost as if guarding it. Cicadas echoed around the village hidden in the leaf. The atmosphere was dense inside the Fire Shadow's office. Minato sat behind his desk, a controlled expression on his face. Sarutobi was standing behind him, his beloved pipe gone for the moment. His eyes were calculative, mouth set straight. Sakura stood, her back to both of them, arms crossed, she looked outside the window. Pubs, bars and restaurants were overfilled with oblivious civilians as well as Shinobi. Little, darling fools those were. There was scarcely anyone equipped with the forlorn knowledge hanging over Konoha. A yet to-be executed death sentence.

"Have you examined the arm?" Sakura's voice cut through the scorching silence.

"Yes. However, it appears the appendage was.. of no human origin." Sakura glanced at the Hokage minutely.

"How so?" A scroll appeared on top of Minato's desk. He executed hand signs and sat back down. Sakura took three steady steps and opened it. Gesturing the universal sign a cloud of smoke filled the space momentarily.

She gasped and took a protective step back. "That's.. That is.." Sweat gathered on her forehead.

"What is it, Sakura-san?" Sarutobi furrowed his brows. He knew she now held some answers to their questions. Seeing her distress and pure anxiety over it however, he'd wager it was bad. Her green eyes glinted in the darkness, eyes as wide as saucers. She looked absolutely frightened, Minato thought.

Sakura wet her lips and tried to swallow. Her throat felt dry. "It's.. impossible." A single word repeated itself on a loop inside her head. How?

"This arm.. it is of human origin." She crossed herself protectively, feeling sick to her stomach. She had to explain, though. "You both are surely aware of Tobirama's forbidden technique. Hashirama-sama thought it improper to develop in the first place." She rambled when she was nervous. "Edo Tensei. This arm belongs to a living corpse, summoned back to our world in order to do someone else's bidding." She looked uncomfortably away from it. The Fourth and Third zeroed in on the arm.

"Furthermore," Sakura felt her stomach flip uncomfortably. " – Byakko-san had both Uchiha and Senju genetics running inside his system. Meaning he had the possibility of possessing the Rinnegan." The Fourth raised his brows.

"That doujutsu is but a myth." Sakura inhaled sharply, glaring at him she shared.

"I can assure you, Lord Fourth, that the Rinnegan is as real as the Nine Tailed Fox your wife carried in her belly once. I saw it with my own eyes, if properly executed it has the ability to turn Konoha into ashes and dust. It already happened once, or will for that matter." She turned away from both of them, fed up with explaining when she could use the time and search for a possible obtainer. Green eyes widened, she made a ninety-degree turn and slammed her hands on Minato's desk.

"Tell me Jiraya-sama's location."

"Ah.." Minato looked aghast at Sandaime-sama, the woman in front of him very much reminding another pushy kunoichi, that took breaking furniture as a hobby. "I believe Jiraya-sensei to be on another research trip for one of his books." Sakura's mouth curled in distaste, she would have to hunt him down, then.

"Where?" Minato stared at her, technically she was one of his subjects. Therefore he should demand at least a little respect. On the other hand, Byakugou Sakura was anything but the usual. Releasing a breath he decided telling her would benefit Konoha the most. On a good day, at least.

"He's currently in the Village Hidden in Hot Water." Sakura groaned, of course.

"It's in the Land of Waterfalls, correct?" Minato nodded. Sakura straightened, ignoring the imprints her hands left on his desk. "It will take me two days to get there, well to be fair, it could've been worse." She muttered, Minato wondered how he'd get the wood straight or if it'd be a better option to get a new desk altogether when Sakura turned swiftly back to them, causing a heavy wind reign in his office. Documents scattered about. There was a momentary silence, interrupted by his heavy sigh. It'd take him days to organize these back.

"Please take Orochimaru-san with you." He absolutely had no strength to deal with his sensei's teammate, and he had to. Each time Sakura went somewhere, Orochimaru decided to pop in frequently and ask about her current status.

Sakura perked up at that. "Ah, good idea. That way Jiraya-sama will assume I'm trustworthy." Minato nodded, suddenly tired and hungry at once.

"Good luck." Sakura nodded and excused herself, forgetting to apologize for the medium office tornado she caused. Sarutobi chuckled and left Minato to his own devices, good thing he didn't have to deal with the paperwork anymore. Now he could look forward to his wife's cooking.

At Konoha's gates Sakura let surprise reside on her face. Orochimaru chuckled, he was walking next to her. Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi stood, prepared for a mission, her mission Sakura thought. They were about to join her. Shisui's grin and Itachi's tired sigh led her to a few suspicions as to why.

"Seems to me, even the Uchiha prodigies need a time-off." Sakura agreed wholeheartedly with Orochimaru.

The team stood on the invisible line that marked the entrance to town. Sakura appraised each of them.

"The purpose of this mission is to reach one of the three Sannin, Jiraya. He is currently located in the Village Hidden in Hot Water, the Land of Waterfalls. I will lead this team, if I will be absent during any moment on this mission, Orochimaru takes the position of team leader. Any questions?"

"What is the mission objective?" Shisui asked, gone was his grin, he was fully prepared for the journey.

"To ask him about sensitive matters." Sakura's voice was strong, they knew to ask no more. With solemn nods the four departed. Sakura leading them in a diamond formation north-east from the safe haven that was Konoha. She tried to accommodate her speed so that no one would tire easily. Her senses spread, the team knew she'd signalize any and all possible danger.

Jiraya recognized the woman after a moment, the haze of alcohol slowly lifting. He squinted his eyes, playing the role of a drunkard with care and dedication. Lifting his alcohol bottle he shouted.

"What an exotic beauty. Come, come, join me pretty woman!" The others giggled, playing along to their own chore. Stony-eyed, Sakura approached the Sannin. He made a show of trying to accommodate her right next to him, prepared for any and all onslaught. She sat herself with a plop and crossed her arms. Perhaps it was due to some remaining Sake particles filtering through his system, or perhaps due to his mind that hasn't cleared yet, but in that moment, Jiraya could've sworn he saw Tobirama sitting in her stead. Blinking, he hoped any astonishment to have been gotten rid of.

"Who's that woman, Jiraya? I don't like to share.." A black haired twenty-something spoke, seating herself on his lap. Because Sakura wasn't on the payroll, therefore not welcome.

"That's right, that's right! Are we not enough..?" Another, this time a brunette, squeezed herself between Sakura and himself, pressing her well-endowed chest into his side. He laughed heartily.

"Ladies, ladies. There's enough of me for each of you." A floury of giggles and lithe laughs evaporated. Still, Sakura sat. Unmoved by the whole spectacle. He was about to continue when she addressed her first words at him that made any notion of playing around leave for good.

"Where are your three students you taught during the Second Shinobi World War?" Cut to the point exactly, he suddenly grew nervous. How did she..? Their eyes connected.

"Perhaps it would be wiser to continue our conversation at a more discreet place." Her voice was velvet. He got the hint instantly. Leaving with a flourish of promises to return they exited the brothel. Sakura made it obvious to lead him somewhere, he half-heartily thought it's a trap but after half a kilometer he recognized three figures. One of them Orochimaru.

"Is the village alright?" A cold- shiver ran down his back. Orochimaru nodded and gestured toward Sakura.

"Our team leader is after specific intel, you can trust her with it." The white haired Sannin lifted one of his thick brows.

"Intel regarding what?"

"Your three disciples, for starters. Where are they currently located, are they in a group called Akatsuki?" Jiraya faced her, wide eyed. After a stare down with Orochimaru, he relented with a sigh.

"Do you wish to discuss this at my apartment instead in open space?" Sakura nodded and they followed the white haired Sannin to his inn.

Shisui fell in step with Itachi and began a whispered conversation. "You got an idea what's this about?" Itachi appraised his cousin, eyes worriedly glancing at Sakura. Finally, he answered.

"No."

"What's this to do with Jiraya-sama's once-disciples? Every time we get told anything, it doesn't add up. She's not telling us the whole picture here." And that's a dangerous thing to do on a mission. A team has to work together, keep their mind open for each of them. Instead, Sakura locked hers and threw the key away. It worried him, not to mention put all of them in jeopardy.

"I agree, however we should trust that in the end, we will understand why she withheld information from us." Shisui drew his brows together, watching Sakura. She walked with that kind of determination he often saw in great leaders. He hoped everything would make sense in the end, otherwise this mission could end very wrong.

They all sat down at the rectangular table and waited for Sakura to speak up. She looked at the wood in front of her, greatly concentrated, and it made the anticipation level raise. She moved her hands in a flourish of hand-signs they immediately recognized as a silence barrier.

"Now we may speak freely." Immediately her eyes locked with Jiraya's. "What is your intel regarding the three Amegakure orphans and their current activity?" Her voice could cut through solid objects, Jiraya imagined.

"I only ever taught them and left them to live as they wish." He scrapped his chin.

"That means you gave them ammunition in the form of ninjutsu and didn't even bother to see if they went down a dangerous road." He blinked.

"Hey, hey, now. They're just kids who couldn't protect themselves, I helped them." Sakura nodded in understanding.

"Yes, that you did. However, – " Sakura made sure Jiraya had his attention all on her. " – Nagato might possess the Rinnegan." There was no telling if the change of the villain bared the same results for the lost Uzumaki. "Uchiha Byakko, who was found recently killed, had his appendages taken. He had both strong Senju and Uchiha blood, which means the suspect is in search of the most powerful eye technique. Going after Nagato and his friends appears to be the logical conclusion. Then again.. who knows? Maybe it were your once-disciples who attacked the head of the Uchiha household." Jiraya perked up at that.

"They would never do such a thing! Furthermore, Nagato possessing the Rinnegan? Ridiculous! I taught the three of them, each one specializes in a specific Ninjutsu Art but none of them showed signs of the mythical eye technique." Sakura narrowed her eyes.

"Are you certain of that?" The real question was; Aren't you lying? A long silence, both Sannin and time-traveler held a staring contest.

"Yes."

That would do, Sakura decided. Jiraya wouldn't lie in matters regarding Konoha's safe being.

"Itachi, would you please book us a room for the night? We'll leave at dawn." Sakura turned to him. He nodded and the door clicked silently shut. Jiraya sat more comfortably, leaning his elbow on his perched knee.

"Last time I heard, they were the opposing force in Amegakure. Demanding a change in leadership, since the country suffers due to its unfortunate geographic placement."

"Who's in charge of the place?" Jiraya scrunched his brow and scratched his chin, silently contemplating.

"Hanzo, I suppose." Shivers cascaded down his back, both himself and Orochimaru remembered that day, years ago, where their titles as Legendary Sannin were announced by that abnormally strong Shinobi. "But Amegakure is reigned by civil war, I wouldn't be surprised if the three of them created it, in order to overthrow their paranoid leader." It was no secret Amegakure undertook very throughout security, 24/7, the whole year.

"Where could I find the three?"

"I could get in touch with them via my summons and establish a meeting. That is – " Jiraya looked sharply at the cold-faced woman. "If you don't harbor ill intentions." Sakura understood the silent warning.

"Don't worry, I merely wish to speak with them." Catching Orochimaru's eyes, he nodded. Summoning one of his toads he asked it to deliver the message, the green specimen nodded and off he popped.

"Now we wait." Suddenly Jiraya was on his feet and his mood took a drastic turn to devious. "I'm coming girls~" With that he departed, surprising Itachi who returned at the same time. Confusion settled for a moment.

"That's Jiraya." Orochimaru shrugged.

"Pervert." Sakura murmured and stood up, snatching the room key from Itachi, she exited with a parting order.

"I'm taking the room, you three can sleep in here. I'm sure Jiraya-san won't be back until late morning."

The three watched the door close, Shisui sweat-dropped.

"I take the bed." Announced Itachi.

"Oy, oy! What's with respect your elder!" Shisui immediately responded, shooting up.

"Orochimaru-san is older than you."

"I'm older than you!"

"Well, I was quicker. Is your age slowly picking at you, Shisui?" Itachi teased, the Shinobi in question bristled, steam coming out of his ears.

"Damn you! I'm only four years your senior."

Orochimaru had enough of it, he stood commanding discipline. "I take the bed. Itachi, you're on watch duty, get out." A cold chill flew through both Shisui and Itachi. They executed orders immediately, getting on the bad side of Orochimaru, heir to poison, would end up lethal. Literally. Everyone remembered how he made Jiraya eat poisonous mushrooms just to shut him up. The white haired man was in a coma for seven days straight.

Sakura chuckled, having heard everything. She fell asleep with a smile on her face and dreamed peacefully for the first time since a long, long while.

The storm heaved strongly on top of the mountain that functioned as a border between the Land of Earth and The Land of Rain. Both teams stood at least twenty feet from another, better safe than sorry was the motto.

"I am Sakura of Konohagakure. These are my teammates." Cue to introduce themselves.

"Uchiha Itachi."

"Uchiha Shisui."

"I believe we've already met once." Whispered Orochimaru scarily. The three shivered, remembering the snake sannin and his tendencies for poison.

"Yes, there is no way to forget one of the Sannin." The orange haired leader of their group grinned. "My name is Yahiko. That is Konan and Nagato." Both of them uttered a silent nod, conscious of the fact that they were less in numbers, if it was an actual trap.

"Thank you for accepting our rushed invitation, but there was no time for pleasantries. The matter is urgent." The rain didn't deter them from watching each other's moves. Yahiko nodded.

"Jiraya - sensei told us that much. What happened?"

"An unknown individual is going after targets with genetics that activate the legendary eye-technique, the Rinnegan. I, together with my team, are searching for any hints regarding possible obtainers and the culprit." The Amegakure teenagers looked at each other uncomfortably.

"A culprit, huh. What did he do?"

Sakura narrowed her eyes and spoke sharply, not missing a beat.

"How do you know it's a him?" Konan shot Yahiko a worried look, Sakura didn't miss it. The orange haired Shinobi sighed.

"We were recently attacked by some man who thought Nagato possessed that wretched technique. Not that I know what it could do." The last part was murmured into his wide turtle neck.

"Does he have it?" The three looked up, anger on their face.

"No, of course not! How? We're all orphans with no clan affiliations, who took our country's future into our own hands." He thumped his chest for emphasis. Sakura let the information sink in.

"It is important you do not lie in my face. Just for the sake of certainty, I ask again." Her green eyes connected with Nagato's dark purple ones. "Do you possess the Rinnegan?" He didn't avert his eyes when he answered.

"No. I specialize in wind techniques and Fuuinjutsu." Sakura felt his heart-rate, it stayed the same, not picking up. He was telling the truth. She couldn't help but feel off-put. Nevertheless, she would work with what was served to her.

"Could you three please specify the attacker?" Nagato's eyebrows furrowed and he took on a thoughtful expression.

"He had dark coloured hair, shaved in the back and framing a serious face. His attire was standard black with a high collar, not unlike ours. On top of it rested an old-fashioned breastplate, additional plates decorated over the outer legs. He wore foot wraps and sandals and had a tanto strapped horizontally to his back." Nagato's words faltered, worrying how to put the two most eye-catching features into words. "What surprised me the most, were those weird lines all over his skin and armour, and.." He catched Itachi's eyes. "He had a Sharingan."

Sakura inhaled sharply, the others looked horrid over the news. A rogue Uchiha? Or perhaps a Sharingan thief. No, she negated. His whole description screamed Uchiha, he must be a rogue then. A lightning bolt hit nearby and her eyes widened.

"No.. an Edo Tensei Uchiha, from the older times." Yes, that would explain the old fashioned battle wear and his whole description.

"Pardon?" Yahiko was confused. "A what?" Sakura's attention snapped back to him.

"When you fought him, he didn't bleed, did he?" The three looked flabbergasted.

"You know him?" She bit her lip.

"Not personally, but I am aware of the state his body is in." The more she explained, the more he couldn't make of anything.

"Wasn't it some sort of technique?"

"Well, I guess you're not that far off. But .." She took a minute to collect her thoughts. "- It's not of his own volition, that man is being controlled like a puppet. He has no free will, or maybe he does, yet I doubt there's a lot of that."

"What do you mean?" Konan sensed Yahiko's annoyance, they were getting nowhere.

"He was summoned back to life by a technique called Edo Tensei. Originally created by Tobirama in secrecy, it must have somehow found its way to the perpetrator and it would appear he performed it perfectly. The man who attacked the three of you is a dead corpse, he's being used by the real villain hidden behind the curtain. Perhaps in plain sight."

"That's sick!" Yahiko couldn't help but make a face, who would do that? Break someone's eternal peace.

Sakura shrugged. "It is how it is, now Konoha must deal with it swiftly." She would need to explain everything in detail to both Hokage. "Thank you for your help." Bowing, the others followed in suit.

"Oy, oy, you can't just plant a bomb and expect us to do nothing. We want to help, after all that guy attacked us." Sakura turned around, enough for them to see a part of her face.

"You have Hanzo and a whole country to worry about. He would take great pleasure in your momentary disadvantage and complot against your group. Each of us has battles to fight, this one is not yours."

Sakura and the rest were a good forty meters away when she heard his loud declaration that put her to a stop.

"Let's create a treaty! If there comes a time of great trouble, and our group already will be in charge of Amegakure, there shall be no lapse in judgement. We will lend you our hand." Yahiko outspread his, as if expecting a handshake. Smiling, Sakura turned in four circles and by the fifth extended her hand upwards, dissipating the cirrus clouds and letting the sun ray down bolts of lights on everyone's surprised faces.

"The rain has stopped… for the first time." Nagato faced Yahiko in disbelief. "In Amegakure." The young man in question released a chocked breath, a smile on his face as he watched the cloudless sky of his homeland for the very first time, with tears gently moisturising his cheeks and neck. He never averted his sigh from the sky, trying to memorize it in detail.

The other two were much the same. After a few seconds of complete stupor they saw the pink haired woman from Konoha in a complete new light.

"I, Byakugou Sakura, accept your proposal of an alliance between the Land of Rain and the Land of Fire." Her words were spoken by two voices

That statement only made the stupor last longer. "Byakugou.., as in the legendary tree in Konoha? With the ink portrait of the world's silent protector?" Whispered Yahiko. Still smiling, Sakura merely spoke a quiet "Let's go." and disappeared with her team from the mountain site.

"That woman… how did she do it? I haven't seen any hand signs." Konan couldn't stop watching the sun smiling down on them. Just like Sakura, her mind whispered.

"She's the light." Yahiko's loud voice made Konan and Nagato's attention return to their leader. Watching the sky, with tears that wouldn't stop, he was sure of it. "Living in the shadows, protecting us. I'm sure of it, Byakugou Sakura is a constant that stabilizes our world and no one knows it." Konan felt tears gather in her own orange eyes. "It's sad, isn't it?"

"She is doing everything in her might to keep the villains from what is precious to her. We should follow her example." Nagato spoke. Konan smiled.

"We are."

A week has passed since their return to Konoha. Information's were swapped, plans slowly started to form and Sakura finally found a moment to rest. Thoughts were nonexistent, any and all worries faded into corners, problems that needed solutions stopped demanding one. Sakura could enjoy the moment and it liberated her.

Feeling the gentle breeze of spring Sakura smiled, carried away by her senses. The comfortable layer of grass she was laying on made her want to never get up. A blue sky covered with clouds upon clouds brought her the simplest of enjoyments. Exhaling, she grazed the top of her fingers over the green surface.

Just like that it was gone.

It started as a gentle pulse at the tips of her feet but conjured into a blasting heat. Startled she sat up. A look at her hands confirmed her sneaking suspicion.

"Oh." Was all she managed to say before time tore her up and all but vomited in the middle of a sandy room. Landing on her fours Sakura felt it hard to adjust her sight, and the urge to vomit was strong.

"Kill her."

Wait, hang on. What?

Looking up she just about managed to out-maneuver three Sunagakure shinobi. All right place: check. All she had to do now was to find out when. Her musings were interrupted by yet another sword and a very painful scream which didn't come from her. Involuntarily her gaze wandered to the source. Oh hell, she was in the middle of someone's labor. Not just anyone's labor to top it all. The Kazegake's wife was in the middle of giving birth to Sabaku no Gaara.

"I – I can help!" Her voice was strained, it took some strength to hold the stronghold with three Sand Shinobi going for her neck. She, however, recognized the monitors filled with data. The woman was going to die in childbirth, and from the look of it, Sunagakure had no resources to put a stop to it.

"You all but appeared in front of us. Do not hold me for a fool! To think Shinobi would take advantage of my wife's delicate state and use the situation, how dare you!" Uh-Oh, the Kazekage's eye-rims colored black and Sakura just knew it'd turn into a fight quickly.

"I'm not taking advantage of anything! You, on the other side, might want to reconsider and take advantage of me. I'm a medical specialist!"

Gold dust was his answer to that. He enveloped her tightly in his clutches and went for her throat. Sakura let him, attacking was no sensible choice here. One of her eyes twitched shut, her windpipe was clenched tightly by the hands of the Kazekage. "Your - , your wife is going to die if you don't let me help you." She sounded as if sand was in her windpipe. The hold tightened, his eyes grew dark.

"Is that a threat?"

"No! But it'll turn into reality if you won't let me help!" Karura's scream interrupted their match. The Kazekage clutched his eyes shut, thinking. This woman appeared out of nowhere furthermore, she was not one of his. One of the nations or lesser villages might have sent her to harm them. On the other side, she herself seemed perplexed and didn't fight back, letting his forces attack her and merely acting defensive against them.

"Let her help!" His wife's pained voice yelped. Chiyo immediately responded.

"That'd be foolish, Karura! You're putting everyone at risk even considering that option!" With the last of her strength Karura grabbed the Elder's robes and yanked her to eye-level.

"I'm willing to do anything for this child to survive." She whispered strongly.

"I can help you, there's still a chance – "

" – none! We're both going to die – aaah!" She panted before continuing, barely conscious she swallowed and willed to speak. "At this point.. that woman might be our only hope." With that she fell unconscious, her body crashing and going into shock. The monitors went wild.

"Let the hell go of me, I'm saving her life!" Sakura had it, even if she now had to use force, she'll do it. She'd pummel each and all into the ground if they won't let her help. To her surprise, the hold on her neck loosened enough for her to speed to the bed and start working. She didn't bother to listen to their spiteful words nor dares. She wanted to save this woman. And she'll succeed.

"The water broke, she'll need an exam." Sakura turned and ignoring the stationed Shinobi with their kunai's all but begging to be slit into her, she reached for the medical gloves and returned. Bending Karura's legs, she tapped her way into her cervix. Ignoring the shocked gasps and admonishment of Chiyo and the rest of the medical staff she continued. She narrowed her eyes. "It's a foot. I feel a foot." Sakura whispered to herself. Furrowing her brows she felt a drop of perspiration form on her forehead. "No. It's a breech." She looked at the pained expression of the passed out woman. "It's a footling breech." And she felt the cord.

"What are you mumbling about, woman. Help her!" Chiyo's voice angered Sakura. She whipped her head around and told her with clenched teeth. "There is no pulse. Her baby might die. It's not getting all the blood that it could be, which means we have to get the baby out as fast as possible, so we can get the pressure off the cord." Her words didn't make sense to the medical staff. No wonder, Sunagakure's medical knowledge was far behind, especially so in the past. Where she was now, damn. Her focus was back on Karura.

"I need to perform a C-section." It's a good thing Karura passed out. No matter what, if she'd push the child would suffocate. Numbing the area with iryo-ninjutsu, Sakura took a scalpel and slit it into Karura's abdomen.

"What are you doing!" Kazekage's roar echoed, Sakura felt gold dust hinder her movements. She was focused on the task, didn't bother to panic.

"I need to get your child out of your wife's womb. If I don't do it right away, she'll die. They might both die." Silence punctured the room until the elder Chiyo decided to speak up.

"You obviously possess advanced medical knowledge, it is no secret Sunagakure lacks it. Kazekage-sama, if we don't take the risk Karura will die. However, if we do take the risk she might die otherwise. I sense no ill intent in her healing but she is cleanly not ours." The last part was dictated at Sakura. Of course they didn't trust her, but they didn't need to. The only thing they needed was to let her handle the birth. Gold dust cleared her way, she could move again.

"If something happens to my wife or child, I will personally kill you." Sakura heard his threat and accepted it.

"Hai." With the deal struck, she performed a perfect abdominal cut and watched the red liquid spread. Moments passed until a newborn's healthy cry touched the present people. Sakura handed a few seconds old Gaara to Chiyo and returned to close Karura's abdomen.

'What about Shukaku, though? The seal should have made him try to esca- ' from one eye-blink to another she found herself inside the One Tailed's prison. Looking up from her crouched position she was met with a curious eye.

"I don't recall meeting you and yet you possess chakra of the mighty I." Sakura couldn't help but sweat-drop at the sibling resemblance. 'Those two clash only because they're alike to the extreme.'

"Now, tell me. How do you plan to repay me for not seeking righteous retribution during that vermin's moment of weakness?" His eye narrowed.

Sakura opened her mouth, ready to respond, but felt the familiar tug all too soon. Shukaku was left with a parting image of her confident smile. Growling at his own stupidity for choosing curiosity over revenge he tried to break free, only for his seal to backfire. In a moment of complete clarity he let himself linger.

"… We never will be free."

He allowed the darkness to cover his body and to dull his very existence.

Sakura landed with a plop on a healthy patch of grass. All too soon she let relief wash over her, only to be disappointed once more when she sensed the edge of a very sharp kunai at her neck. 'That's getting old in a hurry.' She thought to herself.

"Whose side are you spying on? Is it Kirigakure?" Sakura grew goosebumps, the icy voice meant business. A strong opponent. Remembering Itachi's lecture about coding the other day, after their whole meet – and – greet debacle, she thought it worth a try.

"The wren

Earns his living

Noiselessly."

The intonation and spaces were perfectly performed, just like he taught her. It was Konoha's Shinobi code during the wars. She heard a tired sigh and noticed the ninja lower his weapon. Turning around the first thing she noticed was white.

"Have you gotten lost during a battle?"

Kakashi?

No way. It took her a moment to let her mind work its magic. The hair was too long, yet affray in the same manner her once-sensei's was, or will be for that matter. The face was different, too. A face she now recognized along with a certain incident. 'That time, when I was drunk…'

"Sakura-san!" A figure from the crowd shouted friendly. Squinting her eyes, she spotted white hair. Weirdly shaped white hair.

"..Kakashi?" She spoke, blinking to make her eyesight adjust quicker.

"You know of my son? Ah, what a foolish question. Of course you do!" The man, easily in his late forties, scratched the top of his head.

"White Fang.." Sakura heard someone whisper behind her. She turned only to see the hand that was placed on the lower of her back. Huh. There was no magical wall, it was Itachi who helped her walk in that drunken state. She shook her head.

"Do I ..we. Do we know each other?" Sakumo scowled, surprised.

"You saved my life." Sakura's breath hitched. "Back then, the mission to – "

"DON'T!" She yelled and with a swift motion air-bended herself and Itachi away. They landed with a thud on each other, ground and grass around them. Sakura's thoughts were somewhere else though, she didn't see the way Itachi's face reddened nor the intense look that started to burn a hole through her, neither did she realize how he started caressing her bangs.

No, she didn't notice those things because Hatake Sakumo just spoke of something that didn't happen, yet. He spoke of memories that weren't a part of hers, yet. Her eyes widened with realization.

She was going to travel back in time and save Kakashi's father. In moments she was up and standing again.

Quite like now.

"Are you perhaps in shock?" Blinking, Sakura came back to the present.

"Huh?"

"I asked if you lost your bearings after a battle." Sakura tilted her head.

"..You could put it like that." Kakashi's father looked at her with warmth, trying to ease her mind. 'In summary, I'm in the Second Shinobi War.' She truly hoped to not mess up history again and create the Third from that point onwards, since there was no Third Shinobi World War in the second future. Easing down, nearby the fire, Sakura decided to share something. A code didn't just make everyone trust you.

"I was healing people in need when I got lost and ended up here." Sakumo nodded.

"I see." His mind was already planning how to put her iryo-ninjutsu to some good use, since there was no time to escort her back to Konoha. "What is your name?" He asked, trying to ease some of the tension from his remaining teammates. They were wary, as was he, but the difference was, he could hide it behind a mask of friendliness.

"Sakura."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Sakumo. These – " He gestured to the three remaining Shinobi, a female amidst them. " – are my teammates. We are currently undergoing a very important mission. Hence, there's no time to see you off. Would you mind giving us a hand, since your speciality is Iryo-ninjutsu?" Sakura didn't miss a beat.

"Of course. I'd be honoured and even if I were to decline, Shishou would quite frankly put me through a wall if she ever found out I declined medical help." She chuckled, good natured all the while wondering if he'd get the hint and ask..

"Oh? Who is your Shishou then?" Checkmate.

Smiling, Sakura obliged and delivered in a sweetened tone.

"Tsunade-sama." Proudly, she jammed her thumb at her forehead. There was silence, one could hear the howl of a faraway owl.

"…I see." Sakumo sweat-dropped. "That surely took some strength, remaining underneath her wing."

Smiling, she relayed classified information, which could only know a ninja directly acquainted with the slug-princess. No village had that much intel on Senjuu Tsunade, other than Konohagakure's ninja register history. Sakura saw the slow drop of their shoulders. Her stories delivered Sakumo and his team the necessary level of trust. They now held no doubt of Sakura being a Konoha Shinobi.

Sakumo calculated all outcomes with great care, his gaze swept analytically over each inch of the terrain. The neutral Land of Fields had seemed to be a safe location to meet and exchange information. Sarutobi-sama thought the Third Mizukage would not dishonor the agreement which was once signed on the Second Gokage Meeting by attacking them head on. With a sour face Sakumo agreed, instead of facing them head on Kirigakure succeeded in securing his teammates as leverage. They planned everything with great care and had no intentions of letting the scroll holding Konoha's intel on Iwagakure go. Neither did they plan on passing their information of Kumogakure to Sakumo. They held his three teammates in tight grips, he could see perspiration and fear fester on their faces. They were preparing to die since the mission of obtaining the scroll was the priority and would tip Konoha's scale for the win. Sakumo swallowed, overwhelmed by the situation.

"I am waiting, Sakumo of the Hatake clan." Declared the Third Great Water Shadow with his leisurely closed eyes. The white fang grimaced, torn by his duties and feelings. Inhaling, he remembered the faces of the families that his teammates left behind in Konoha, they were at peace because Sakumo was the one leading the squad. The moment he exhaled the decision was already made. In a brilliant show of light and Raiton he managed to finish off the two Kirigakure Shinobi that had him cornered seconds earlier. The Third Mizukage didn't even move, the only indication of displeasure was a delicate frown marring his forehead.

"Always the same fools, I see." The Shadow of Kirigakure motioned for the death of Sakumo's platoon yet was again surprised to see Konoha's White Fang act before his very own squad could. His frown deepened. "How very useless." He muttered and decided to take action on his own. It was clear, from the very beginning, the mission he so carefully planned would be a fluke if not for his own interference. No one but a Kage level Shinobi could have a face-off with Konoha's White Fang. Smirking he opened his eyes. Instantly, it started raining. Sakumo looked above and knew if he and his squad wouldn't start running, their lives would be no more. Taking actions he ordered his three scared teammates to run for the hills, away from the mansion and to not under any circumstances make a motion to look back. Turning around he willed to face Kirigakure's Mizukage. Sakumo shuddered, absently tensing.

"Please, do not harm them. I will give you the scroll." He begged, bowing his head.

"This will be over soon." Ignoring the man his watery eyes connected with Sakumo and at once he knew why the Mizukage never opened his eyes. They were water seals. Promptly the raven haired elite ninja drew his arm back –

and registered that it was stopped by another one, paler far gentler at that. Both Shinobi drew in shocked breaths.

"It really is disrespectful to backstab at a diplomatic meet. Gengetsu is surely screaming at you from wherever it is he ended up after dying." Both men's eyes widened. Mizukage's face was disturbed beyond belief. This was the same woman, no – Shinobi that was once appointed as the Second Hokage's rear guard. And took down all of the current Kage – himself included. And she didn't age one day since twenty-three years. He liquefied his hand in hopes of getting some distance between himself and this abomination, he cringed. Her bottomless chakra reserves were suffocating him. Squeezing harder Sakura didn't break the eye-lock when she literally froze his arm. He released a strangled grunt. Her eyes sharpened.

"Sakumo-san, I think it would be best to leave this to me." White Fang woke from his stupor looking forth and back between the two forces of nature. He had no idea this woman held such power! Registering her words he shook his head. "No. I have to – "

"I'll get the scroll, meanwhile you should concentrate on aiding your teammates. Kirigakure is pursuing them." He shifted his blade, unsure of what to do. Sakura yelled, frustrated.

"You've got Kakashi, no? Get a grip and return safely home!" Sakumo froze for a minute, she knew..? How? Shaking his head he decided to help his team. Sending Sakura a parting look he disappeared in a fury of light.

The wind increased the second Sakura got rid of Kakashi's father. Squeezing harder Sakura made sure to break off Mizukage's frozen hand and the startled Kage put good distance between them, she let him. Shaking off remnants of frozen flesh Sakura looked straight at him.

"You do realize I won't be leaving without obtaining the scroll." She gave him some time to think. "Be assured that I will hunt you down if the intel turns out to be worthless." Sakura paused to pick behind her nails. "Also, I've just decided the deal is off since you were foolish enough to play with my people." Sakura looked coolly at the Water Shadow. He seemed ready to murder her. "You really don't want to fight me seriously. I control everything around you, each speck of dust, each particle and each element." At once he remembered how she took down the Uchiha lunatic and faced a tailed beast head on all those years ago, she was right. A battle between them would mean he would die, even if he did manage to win. No one won against such an opponent and lived to spread the tale.

Her cold eyes connected with the pulsing pair of Mizukage's. He activated his seals and water was everywhere, suffocating her. She gave him two seconds to realize she was, in fact, immune to genjutsu. He drew back and immediately earth barricaded his road to freedom. Sakura's glowing figure came towards him.

Each attack of his that would've destroyed even Hatake Sakumo was dismissed with a mere hand gesture. He grew frustrated and.. was that fear? Reaching out she took hold of his face, inches from her own and whispered sweetly, unconsciously fabricating Kaguya's form and long nails that were scrapping his cheek. "May I have the scroll, now?"

The man was shuddering, her chakra was enveloping him in a suffocating embrace, and that voice. It was hard to breathe. Shakenly, he reached into his kimono, Sakura tightened her grip on his chin daring him to fool her. Reaching the scroll he took it out and handed it to the mighty warrior. Easing her grip on the Third Mizukage Sakura snatched it from him and looked over it.

Nodding to herself she deemed it the real deal and started walking away into the thick canopy of trees. Stopping, she turned and waited for her gaze to connect with his own pair of eyes. "The Land of Fire and everything that is connected to it shall forever be under my silent protection." The Second watched warily the pink haired monster speak up. "Let this be your first and last warning Mikumari Binzuru of the Water Goddess clan." With that she leapt high into the trees and only the remaining fragrance of powerful chakra was proof she's ever been there. Dreamily, the Third Mizukage looked up wondering how it was that the woman who not only didn't age but was also strong enough to take on a Kage knew of his name. The name he abhorred and swore to never utter again.

Hatake Sakumo silently accepted the scroll about Kumogakure from the moody rabbit with a eye-patch, releasing a grateful thanks. Back in Konoha, when he was being debriefed, Sakumo watched, speechless, when the Sandaime Hokage chuckled after being told of the events which took place in the Land of Fields. Only when he was looking at the puppyish eyes of his five-year old son, Kakashi, did he stop questioning his actions and was simply relieved to be back home and alive. To see his son grow and age.

Meditating in the long overgrown crater she once crashed into thereby saving Uchiha Izuna, Sakura concentrated. Her breathing was natural, heart-beat extremely rhythmic, posture a perfect replica of those seen in books.

A spark of chakra. Emerald eyes snapped open. Exactly six in the afternoon, as always. She was gone before the autumn breeze could hit her.

Chasing the extremely small bit of energy, because it couldn't be called more than a barely-there blip on the radar. Fragile yet repeatedly there. Always six in the afternoon. No matter where she was; in the hospital, apartment, the library or on clan grounds she always felt the conscious pang of it.

There was a very deep and low underground tunnel, somewhat three minutes from her current location in the thick canopy of Konoha's Forrest of the Death. Sakura emerged from the giant tress and dived straight into it, afraid the blip would suddenly be gone. As always when the clock struck ten minutes after six. With the aid of air she made it and stepped carefully forward. Her eyes were closed, earth sensing skills on full alert. Eyebrows furrowed.

There! She threw a harsh water whip and hardened it to ice upon getting to the target. The earth whispered to her, a male.

"What is the meaning of this?" Her voice was barely a whisper, she knew her captive heard her though.

"Just as I presumed… Ancient chakra resides inside your system." The voice was gruff, she'd call it a synonym to steel. Sakura didn't reply, she waited for some more elaboration. The surprise upon hearing his statement however, couldn't be shaken off. He had sharp senses, a few levels sharper than Tobirama's even.

"There is still hope left for me, then." She heard him struggle against the ice. "You rule over your techniques with an iron grip. Good. It can only be of merit." She catched his weird way of speaking. Old even.

"You attacked the three Amegakure Shinobi." The man was awfully similar to Yahiko's description. Sakura just knew, if there was any sunlight there, she'd see a perfect Shinobi replica of the Warring States.

"Indeed, I did. Although not voluntarily, I am being controlled." His gruff voice held all the distain he could muster. A prideful individual like himself, turned into a puppet. Heretics!

"By whom?"

"I cannot tell, the jutsu that was cast on me gives me limited freedom. It is nothing but my sheer will, and the fact that the caster is attending to his businesses, that made it possible for me to be here."

"Who are you?"

"Once more, I cannot tell. All I am able to give away is that I once reigned my clan." Sakura furrowed her brows.

"How far back in time?" She heard him sigh.

"Very long."

"That's very vague." Sakura narrowed her eyes. "How can I be sure it's not a play? You're reanimated back into life and are being controlled. For all I know, this all here can be a farce to harm Konoha."

"..Konoha?" His voice sounded astonished. "That brat.., he did make his dream reality."

"So you're from Senju Hashirama's time, then?" More clues made her giddy with excitement. Perhaps, it wouldn't be that far-off to assume it wouldn't be difficult getting the person behind all this.

"I cannot tell." Or perhaps the assume would make an Ass out of U and Me. Damn.

"It's still a possibility, a strong one if you haven't lived long enough to witness Konohagakure's birth."

"The time to talk is limited. Therefore, let me disclose the information's I am able to give you." Sakura nodded, remembering he couldn't see it she voiced her agreement.

"My heritance remained until today, of that I am sure. Notwithstanding – "Looking at his cracked hands he shook his head in disbelief. "The summoner used our sacred ways to their advantage." His gaze ventured back to Sakura, or least where he guessed she stood.

"You see, we did not burn our bodies, despite our elemental disposition. We always treated the fallen ones with respect. From my vantage point however, there is none of that left in this day and age. Same with honor." His mouth curled in distaste. Sakura couldn't help herself. 'Well look at that, honor and respect came back to bite you in your ass.'

"Times change." She felt him nod.

"Not necessarily a good thing. In the old times no one would dare use the afterlife to their advantage and disturb our sacred sleep." As if. People would do anything for power, no matter what era. "Yet, here I am. Unable to do anything and unwilling to, at the same time. I want you to free me from this unsightly debacle.

Definitely an Uchiha, they didn't ask for permission nor forgiveness. They demanded.

"I will break the jutsu, no matter what. It's in my interest to stop whoever cast it in the first place." She thought for a moment. "Will you be able to come here tomorrow, as well?"

"That I do not know, since as you already are aware of, I am not heir of my own body." But sarcastic remarks didn't seem to be a problem.

"I will wait for your signal." Sakura broke the ice with intent, the remaining particles were still flying in directions when she told him. "If this ever turns out to be an ambush, I will show no mercy."

"I expect nothing less." She felt him swish away, it was already eight minutes past Six o'clock. Turning into her own direction she summarized everything in her head.

One – He was an Uchiha. Additionally the head of the clan. Not counting the obvious Sharingan Yahiko told about, the Edo Tensei corpse relayed in code his clan uses Katon Jutsu and is bloody proud to that.

Two – He was far older than Hashirama and it wasn't Uchiha Madara, to her delight. Their voices didn't match, nor the way they spoke. It was older, just like Yahiko said. Even had a slight dialect. Furthermore, by the time of his death Konoha didn't exist yet, nor would have in his foreseeable future, calling the sole name disdainfully a mere dream.

Three – She'd stop his agony and pummel that summoning murderer into an far too-late grave.

...

So, So, SO!?

How was it? Did you like the dynamic of this chappie? What do you think about it? Is the story, plot, to your liking?

Please leave me some hints! :D

Somehow, it was awfully hard to write this chapter...