Chapter Twenty Seven


Sakura couldn't pinpoint the feeling she had. It wasn't upset, but it certainly wasn't a good feeling. She took a sip of her drink and tried to tune back in to whatever Kiba was rambling on about. It was nice to see everyone at Kakashi's celebration, she spent time with her close friends of course, but she didn't see all of the Konoha 12 as often as she liked in her retirement.

Though, it's not like she had much to chime in with. Everyone was talking about their missions, and complaining about things which had no relevance to her anymore. Even Ino's hospital drama was something she couldn't keep up with, she was only there two days a week.

Left out, that was the word. She needed civilian friends, but they also wouldn't get it.

She gnawed her lip and made her way over to the table of feet, picking at a tray of vegetables and sipping her drink. After ten minutes or so of staring at the crowd she headed toward Kakashi.

"Congratulations, Kakashi- sen –"

"Oh Sakura," he slurred in a voice way, way too emotional for him, "You know it's all a sham."

Sakura laughed and shook her head, giving his arm a squeeze before heading for the door.

The winter air hit and she appreciated the fresh feeling it gave her lungs as she headed back to her apartment.

"Sakura! Where are you going?"

Sakura glanced over her shoulder to see Naruto running after her.

"Home, I – uh – it's been a long day, and I really –"

"A long day? What'd you do?" His brows furrowed.

"I, uh.." She hadn't done anything was the problem. She had knit for a while, gone on a run, and baked for the party tonight.

"I just didn't have much to say."

Naruto tucked his hands in his pockets as he walked next to her.

"We miss you, ya know."

"I'm right here, Naruto."

"No, I mean on missions. Like Sasuke is great and all, but it's not the same without you."

Sakura held her arms close to herself, the air suddenly seeming colder.

"I just… I can't right now. The village is just so –"

"You think I don't know that?"

Sakura stopped and looked at Naruto, taking in the hurt expression on his face.

"Naruto, I –"

"My parents are dead because of their shit. I have a demon inside me because of that, but it's the people, Sakura. We fight to keep the people safe – the children."

Sakura frowned and shook her head.

"The children they're going to make child soldiers? And what about the children we fight against in the field? I can't kill a kid again, Naruto, I can't do it."

"Then don't."

"You make it sound so easy, it's not -"

"It is. I haven't, and I won't."

"Well I have, and it was that child, or the village. Which children am I supposed to choose?"

Admitting to it hurt. Admitting that she had killed children before wasn't easy, but at the time she easily could be a child as well. Hell, she was eighteen, she was still a child.

Naruto hugged her, and the warmth was enough to make her want to just stop and cry right there. But had promised herself she'd stop the crying. But god, the fact he still cared even after she abandoned them –

"Just keep it in mind, Sakura. The village needs you."

Maybe they did, but Sakura wasn't sure if she could handle serving it again.


"I didn't expect to see you here."

Sakura turned, mid punch to see Neji walking onto the training field. She furrowed her brow.

"You never use this training field."

Neji raised brows.

"What are you – stalking me?"

Sakura pursed her lips and put a hand on her hip.

"You're the one showing up at my training field, Neji."

Neji shook his head and sat down, placing an extra lunch in her direction. She sat down warily. This was odd at best, and down-right horrifying at worst.

"What did you do?"

Neji rolled his eyes and gestured to the spread in front of him

"I brought you lunch."

Sakura sat down and eyed the bag, before turning her scrutiny to Neji.

"But why did you bring me lunch?"

"Because you look like death, now eat."

Sakura's grin creeped onto her face, even though she tried to hold it back. She hadn't seen Neji in about a week, and even at Kakashi's event, they had barely spoken. He missed her. The Hyuga Neji missed her.

"Stop grinning like an idiot."

Sakura caught her own smile and pointed at him.

"You missed me."

Neji rolled his eyes and Sakura could swear his cheeks were just the slightest bit pink.

"I thought it was time we spent some time together, but I didn't –"

"Just say it, Neji. You. Missed. Me."

"Well I certainly didn't miss this."

Sakura rolled her eyes, a light smile dancing on her face. She opened the box, and enjoyed the sandwich he had made.

"You know, I miss it too."

Neji looked up, and Sakura looked up at the sky instead of back at him.

"And honestly, I'm not much happier out of it."

Neji shrugged and leaned back, also finding comfort in the sky.

"Then come back."

Sakura snorted, shaking her head.

"Now you sound like Naruto."

"Nothing's going to change is no one fixes it."

Sakura blood ran cold.

"Are you imply-"

She stopped and shook her head.

"I can't. No one would listen, Neji. Why would they? I'm not even a shinobi anymore."

Neji shrugged, packing up his lunch. Sakura stared at him wide-eyed, as he began to walk away.

"You've never been one to take no for answer. I'll see you around."

Sakura gnawed her cheek and packed up the rest of the lunch. Neji was being ridiculous. There was absolutely no way she could do that.

Could she?

And whether or not she could ate at her the following weeks. It nipped at her ankles on her run, and every click on her knitting needles begged her to find out. Even the squeal of the tea kettle asked her to please, for the love of god find the answer.

She turned to reading, reading something absolutely not related to the village, in an attempt to get the dumb, awful ideas out of her head. It was a love story – well it was a war story disguised as a love story to sell, a clever idea really. She should be focused on the budding romance between the protagonists, but she couldn't help but notice the varying ways of governing of the countries within the story.

They were… democratic.

The governing of Konoha was supposed to be a democracy, or at least it was disguised as such. There was civilian's council, which were elected, and there was the clan council. Then, of course, there were the elders. One would think the councils had governing power because, if not, what was the purpose?

But, they didn't. They merely offered suggestions and a voice, but – in the end – it was up to the Hokage.

Assuming the elders didn't intervene. The elders also offered suggestions, but with their political pull…it was a rare day they were disobeyed.

Sakura slammed the book on her coffee table, and huffed back into the arm chair.

Fine, she'd look into it. If only to prove Neji wrong.


Sakura wasn't technically allowed in the archives anymore.

And she certainly wasn't allowed in the part of the archives she was slinking through.

But, if they wanted to keep S-Rank shinobi out, they really should have devised a better security system.

Sakura fingered through the files, tucking them into her pack. No one came to look at them anyway, they were simply record keeping. But there was one that was missing, the file on the Hyuga.

She combed through the section one more time, and she realized that all current clan documents… were kept in the Hokage's office.


Kakashi dropped the file on the desk as she walked in and raised his brows.

"This is what you're looking for, yes?"

Sakura eyed the file with Hyuga crest on the front, before glaring up at Kakashi.

"Why would I be looking for that?"

"Well I just took a leisurely stroll through the archives - they're quiet for reading," Kakashi tapped his book.

"And I happened to notice a few interesting files missing. If I was to connect the dots, I would have figured this one would be the one the assailant was missing." Kakashi leaned forward, his tone became more serious, "Would I be correct?"

Sakura's eyes narrowed, matching his. Today was not the day for her to lose a battle of wills.

"And if you were?"

"I'd be inclined at give it to you."

Sakura attempted to hide the surprise the gushed through her with a small perk of an eyebrow.

"At what cost?"

Kakashi made a gasping noise.

"Did you just accuse me of attempting to strike a bargain with you?"

Sakura sighed and leaned forward on his desk.

"If I remember correctly, lesson number forty-seven - nothing in the shinobi world comes without a cost. Right, Lord Hokage?"

Kakashi leaned into his palm and waved her off.

"Well good thing your retired, Sakura. Shinobi lessons no longer apply to you."

Sakura eyed the folder for another moment, before opening it and scanning its contents. It was exactly what she needed. She tucked it into her bag, and gave a small bow.

"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei."

Kakashi turned to face the village.

"For what, Sakura?"

Sakura smirked and ran from the office.


Sakura had meant to spend two weeks or so putting her theories to rest. It wasn't possible, but the more she read, the more she was bothered. The more she needed to do something. Everything was in a worse state than she thoughts. And small inklings of how to fix it just kept popping into her brain. If anything, more research was proving Neji right.

Not that she'd ever let him know that.

So, in the next year it consumed her.

She started in meetings with Iruka and talking about the children and the education system. He directed her to other education professionals. She moved onto meetings with the clan's heads and asking them about their policies and the clan council. She surveyed civilians, particularly the clan council.

Her notes were meticulous and resounding. Things needs to change, but how? Starting where?

Convincing Kakashi to let her leave was… not the easiest thing she ever did.

But when complained that Sasuke and Naruto had gotten the chance to leave and travel the world, he'd clammed up and waved her off with agreement as long as she came back within the year.

She didn't realize she could travel so fast. She called in favor after favor. She needed to visit every village she could and survey their leaders and people. Some villagers were better, especially the smaller ones. Some villages were worse, much worse.

And then, there was the hunt for a seal master. She needed one greater than Jiraiya, and even worse, she needed one that was trustworthy.

There were nights she cried in frustration and came near calling it quits and stomping home. But there were others where she couldn't imagine herself having any other purpose. She was helping people, saving lives, and she didn't have to kill a single soul.

In an inn just outside of Konoha, she started at the sheet of paper in front of her.

It was done.

The proposal was done.

She had read it thirty times, double checked her sources and research. It wasn't perfect - nothing every would be – but it was close.

Sakura took a long breath, the fire in her veins burning and ready, before she got ready to walk back to the village.


It was nice to see the gates again. They were always strangely welcoming after long journeys. As the crisp fall air twisted through her hair, she did not mourn the loss of the Konoha summer. She'd spent that time up in Sound, where the summers were much more mild and rainy.

"Kotesu, Izumo," She greeted as she walked up to check in.

"Sakura, you're home!" She nodded.

"Do you know if Kakashi is in his office, or in town?"

"He should be. Haven't seen that lazy bastard of out his office in -"

Izumo elbowed Kotetsu.

"Yes. The answer is, yes."

Sakura stifled and chuckle as she headed up to the Tower. She ran her fingers over the proposal. She hadn't wanted to stuff it in her bag, or seal it in a scroll. She couldn't let it out of her sight.

She stared at Kakashi's door, not knowing whether to knock or just walk in. Tsunade had always insisted she just come in. Kakashi was likely –

"Sakura, you are back."

Sakura looked up at Shikamaru in the doorway.

"Good to see you," she offered.

She patted her on the shoulder as he moved to hold the door for her.

"Yeah, you too."

The door thudded behind her and Sakura took an inaudible breath as she sat down across from Kakashi.

"Good to have you back, Sakura."

"It's good to be back."

Sakura placed the proposal on the desk.

"It's done."

Kakashi picked up the booklet and eyed the title –

"Mosaic?"

Sakura nodded.

"A mosaic is an art piece put together by pieces of broken glass."

Kakashi nodded.

"I'm aware of the definition, but why?"

"Konoha is shattered. Our education system is archaic, our children are dying, our veterans are going mad, we have clans actively participating in the oppression of their own people, and our government system is so corrupted I didn't know where to start. But, even with all that, it could be beautiful.

Konoha could be full of joy and light. It could be healthy and prospering. Not just financially, but educationally and socially. We should be leaders in our field. But, we have a lot of work to do. I've proposed solutions based on research from other villages and nations. We can't stand to be broken shard of glass anymore, it's not working. We need to become a mosaic."

Kakashi nodded, slowly, and read the proposal. Sakura wasn't sure how long it took. It felt like hours, as the silence nearly suffocated her. But, she knew it was sound. She had argued with herself for months over every point and detail.

He closed the booklet, and looked up her. His eye turned up into a smile.

"This is well done, Sakura. You will be the head of Project Mosiac."

Sakura nodded, and bowed before dashing out of the room.

She didn't have a second to waster or a moment to spare, she had a job to do.


A/N: And... that's the end folks.

An epilogue will follow, but essentially thats the end of Broken Glass.

Thank you everyone again for all the support, reviews, favorites, and for reading. Writing this has been such a pleasure.

My next fic will be an ItaShi and SNS fic, if that's up your alley - so give that a look in a few weeks if that's up your alley.

Thanks again for reading! :)