Everyone was still gathered on the training grounds when the duo returned "Right, I'm going to make my rounds of the village" Ay glowered, then disappeared from the field heading into the village to scout out anyone causing trouble.
Leaving his shinobi and the Mist Shinobi and Mizukage behind "Clearly you haven't been skiving on training after all" Darui grimaced as it finally hit him that massive jutsu had come from Sakura, who ducked her head and smiled innocently.
Peridot eyes glinting with mischief "Nope" Sakura quipped before setting her sights on the quiet Omoi, Karui and Naruto working on the tree climbing exercise "Want to help me train Omoi-kun" she inched her way over to the boy.
"In what Sakura-chan, taijutsu you'd beat me at, kenjutsu, we're to evenly matched and I don't have any jutsu's to fight against you with" the white haired boy scuffed his sandal on the ground, though he'd still help her if asked.
Sakura smiled sweetly "Ah well I was kind of hoping that you'd help me increase my speed with the transportation seals, the last training I tried kind of ended with…." she tugged on a strand of pink hair "Me cutting my hair off because it got in the way" she finished.
Cee and Darui snorted in laughter before the blonde cleared his throat "Just how exactly where you training anyway" Cee inquired as they all found a spot to sit on the ground leaning against a rock or another that dotted the field.
"Hehehe I made mild exploding tags and each time I jumped to a different gem I set one off, I only made it to five last time out of the sixteen I made, before the rest of them went off anyway" Sakura laughed sheepishly.
Omoi choked on his tongue "You are crazy, did you fall and hit you're head or something" he frowned but followed his friend anyway as she went around setting up the kunai, attached them the different gems she had carved into them the transportation seal.
"Ah no, they didn't really hurt, more caused dust to fly up in the air or send me rolling off my feet, the only thing that it harmed was my hair, it got singed hence why I cut it all off because it kept falling out of the braid" she scratched her cheek with a grin.
Both of them settling into stances as they got ready to practice, it was started by her jumping to the first seal, Omoi was racing after her, using chakra to increase his speed in hopes of catching Sakura before she could get to the next one.
She was fast they'd give her that, but it was Ao who noticed how she had to concentrate in order to get to the next seal, he wasn't the only one, the white haired boy knew to, he also knew which ones were her favorite gems.
The lavender tanzanite being a big one and it was one Omoi was counting on twenty minutes into their training and he launched himself at Sakura, who'd just landed next to it ready to go to a different one and tackled his friend.
Rolling until she ended up on top of him sitting on his stomach before she was gone in a flash of pink "Just call her the Pink Flash, cause all you see is a glint of pink whenever she jumps from seal to seal" Darui commented quietly.
"It's a good nickname, though I don't think it's appropriate for Sakura-san" Cee said absentmindedly, she was resourceful he'd give her that much credit, but he guessed why this training was necessary, she wasn't fast enough in connecting her chakra individually to the seals.
Laughter drew their gaze once more onto the duo, at the very least Sakura and Omoi seemed to be having fun, their session came to an abrupt end in the next moment "Sakura-chan guess what I can use seals now to" Sasuke popped onto the training grounds.
Only to duck as a kunai whizzed by his face, he sweat dropped "Now I know how Kakashi-san feels, sorry Sasuke, what are you doing here, aren't you supposed to be training also" Sakura narrowed her eyes on the boy.
Seeing an image of another brunette with onyx eyes, only with longer hair than the spirit she saw in Naruto, it hurt knowing she could never meet them in person her real brothers "Whoa Sakura-chan are you okay, you look really sad all of a sudden" the second Uchiha Heir frowned.
"Don't worry about it Sasuke-kun now back to my question" she hurriedly hid her sadness behind a facade, now wasn't the time to tell the two boys the truth, their unnatural protectiveness over each other and their closeness all these years.
He rubbed the back of his head "Kakashi-sensei let me off early for the day with the sole promise of practicing even harder tomorrow, I sent a clone to get us lunch from the tea shop, though I didn't know that anyone else was gonna be here" Sasuke admitted.
A smile curved her lips upwards in fondness before she sped through a set of hand signs and made a water clone before sending it off after getting the orders from everyone of what they wanted from the tea shop "My treat, I feel like it don't argue" Sakura said.
Still having a lot of money from when Nagato had given her that huge amount the year before, she held onto it like a vice grip "Why us to" Mei had to ask as they'd also been given a chance to get a free meal out of someone.
"Because Sakura-chan's selfless like that" Naruto piped in as he and Karui gave up on training for the moment eagerly awaiting their lunch, even if it wasn't ramen, he'd still eat it because Sakura was being entirely to nice at the moment.
Making him wonder what was going to happen, it was a thought nearly everyone had, had so far during the last several days "Or she could have an ulterior motive, she could try to poison us all" Ao threw out there with a glare.
Karui bristled with fury "Sakura-chan would never, ever do something so horrible like that, so never accuse her of doing such a thing again" she jumped to her friends defense in a heartbeat, not liking that Sakura had just been accused of something she'd never do in the first place.
"Relax Karui-chan, it's okay the suspicion anyway, though you're wrong about one thing Naruto, I'm entirely to selfish sometimes, wishing we could go back to our academy days so we didn't have to face the world in all it's cruelty" Sakura murmured softly.
Never mind that she wanted to protect the world, Naruto and Sasuke, and all of their friends, fifteen minutes later the Sasuke and Sakura clones returned baring boxes of takeout from the tea shop that were all handed out to everyone.
"Th..Thank you Sakura-san" Chojuro was a polite one it seemed as he thanked her for the food that he hadn't had to get for them, because Ao liked to order him around most of the time and get him to do things by himself, which he always messed up on.
Earning a small smile from the pinkette as they all dug into their lunch time meal, though everyone noticed that Sakura was the only one who didn't have dango with her food "Still obsessed with the dark chocolate huh" Darui snorted quietly.
When he noticed her breaking off two small pieces from a large bar and storing the rest in a cooled storage scroll, it was the opposite of a heated one where that one kept food warm, while the cool one kept things cold.
"Really what happened to the girl who couldn't stand sweets" Cee chuckled teasingly happily eating his own sweet treat as he finished off his rice and curry, they were lucky though that Sakura considered them all friends.
Sakura shrugged lightly "Ah I still don't eat much sweets, just the two small pieces, after every meal" she stood to throw her trash away, she was on her way back to the others when it happened, it being an image.
That flashed quickly before her eyes alerting her of the danger, Sasuke jolted as his friend landed next to him and pushed him deftly out of the way just as a silver haired male that wasn't Kakashi came streaking through the clearing.
Hand glowing blue and it sliced clean through Sakura's shoulder a pained cry slipped through her lips and the teenager reeled back in surprise "Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, Orochimaru-sama is not going to be happy with me" he began muttering to himself tearing his hand free of her shoulder.
Blood was dripping rapidly to the ground at a fast rate "Chakra Scalpel" Sakura looked up in horror and scrambled backwards while trying to get her arm to work, her whole mind was numb that it was cutting off the pain she felt currently.
Onyx eyes snapped to her emerald and their gazes clashed, everyone was on their feet in a flash but they were to late, the teenager was gone "Th..That's the second time in two bloody days you've gotten injured on someone else's account" Karui glared at her friend.
"Sorry, sorry" it was clear Sakura was going into some kind of shock, as she stood there looking lost, why "Why was he after you Sasuke-kun" she asked quietly finally getting her chakra in working order to heal the wound.
Sasuke cursed "I..I don't know, he was nice to us during the Chunin Exams, how the hell did you even know he was after me in the first place, none of us even sensed him" it hit him then and his face went white as a sheet.
Cee approached the girl cautiously blood replenishing pills in hand and he helped Sakura sit on the ground while his own hand glowed green to help her heal herself of the injury, it was like last time with the former Hokage's, how she'd known they were going to be attacked by the masked man.
"See entirely to selfish Naruto-kun, I don't like when someone tries to hurt my important people" her eyes and smile were watery but Sakura picked herself back up like she always did in order to protect their dreams, all of their dreams and her own.
Naruto choked "Wh..What about you Sakura-chan, is it okay if you're the only one getting hurt, stop protecting us damn it we aren't little kids anymore" he hit his fist against the ground but she wasn't even paying attention anymore.
It was like she was swimming through an ocean "She lost to much blood" Darui said leaning over his apprentice "Do you want us to take you to the hospital kiddo" he asked gently breaking through the haze that had settled over her mind.
"Ah no" Sakura blinked her eyes able to focus once more as the blood replenishing pills worked their magic "Just give me a few minutes I'll be alright" she smiled staring up at the blue sky taking in everything once more.
A few minutes later Sakura sat up properly only to jump in fright as a plume of smoke exploded in front of her, the smoke faded to reveal "Gamakichi what are you doing here" she asked softly taking in how the toad had grown since the last time she'd seen him.
"Elder Gamamaru wants to see you Pink Tadpole and I was sent here to warn you before Fukasaku-sama summoned you to Mount Myoboku" the red toad announced before vanishing, all of them jolted when the girl vanished in the next moment as well.
And Sakura found herself in front of the gigantic toad "Young Sakura" he started slowly like usual "I have had a dream, don't be alarmed child, this will bring you a great amount of happiness, the world is changing as are the people, who were once divided they are now coming together" he continued on.
"The future is shaping into something different than what I initially dreamed, you still have to worry about that man but he is the least of you're concerns, wear this always, it will protect you from harm" Gamamaru leaned down returning the beaded necklace.
Sakura gasped as she saw the new beads, just before she was falling face first into someones lap "A…AH Sak..Sakura-san" Chojuro yelled in horror and she scrambled backwards into Omoi, who caught her round the shoulders.
"Whoa there Sakura-chan easy there, what did that old toad guy want with you anyway" the white haired boy asked carefully as she tried to regain her bearings, like seriously everything had to freaking happen at the same time.
The pinkette lifted up the necklace "He told me about a dream, Great Elder Gamamaru-sama can see visions and he also told me to wear this again" she slipped it around her neck, a piece of her feeling as if it had been returned.
"Got a lot of beads now huh Sakura-chan, man I wish I could have something cool like that, but I'm not gonna train to be a sage until I'm older" Naruto pouted completely forgetting about what had happened earlier or so it seemed.
Ao blinked "Excuse me are you saying she's a sage already, like Jiraiya the Sannin, who legendary for being a summoner of Mount Myoboku Toads" he cut in rudely and Mei was tempted to slap him on the head.
She turned to face him and nodded "That's my father, though adopted father is more like it, he's my Dad nonetheless and yes I trained when I was younger, I have my own summons apart from him and Naruto-kun and Minato-san" Sakura said softly.
"But I thought you learned who you're real dad was" Omoi burst out "Come to think of it, you still haven't told us who it is" he scooted closer to his friend so she was practically squished to his side, he didn't want to let her get hurt ever again not when he was nearby anyway.
Sakura craned her neck to meet his gaze "I don't think now is really the time" she leaned her head on his shoulder, feeling tired all of a sudden and her eyes slid shut, to avoid any further questions and rest her mind for the moment.
Mei frowned "Now she's being extremely suspicious, why so secretive, we're trustworthy aren't we" she sighed, having taken a liking to the young girl, who admittedly got in trouble on a daily basis it wasn't even funny anymore.
"I don't think it's about that anymore more like the village is in to much danger to reveal her secrets" Shisui body flickered onto the training grounds to check on his little friend, knowing the complete truth about Sakura and feeling terrible she was going through this still.
He wanted to take on her burdens, he'd done it before erased the images from her mind of the Apartment Massacred and her dead neighbors, Shisui in the next moment made a decision "Naruto, Sasuke come with me" he ordered.
Neither boy argued, though they hesitated in leaving Sakura for even a second, and followed after the older Uchiha who they'd grown up playing with "What's going on Shisui" Sasuke asked once they were stood on a familiar training grounds, in the Uchiha Compound.
"Yeah why did you make us leave Sakura-chan, she won't like it that we left without telling her, it's just gonna cause her to freak out" Naruto locked his fingers behind his head, blue eyes narrowed on the Uchiha.
Shisui took a deep breath "Do either of you believe in time travel" he asked, both boys shrugged "Do you think it's possible though" he prodded and got hesitant nods "What would you say if Sakura was a time traveler from the far past" he narrowed his eyes.
"Who cares, Sakura-chan, is Sakura-chan, the first girl I ever wanted to be friends with because she didn't want to be with me cause of the Uchiha name, and just wanted to be my friend" the second Uchiha Heir stated.
Naruto nodded his head as well "Precisely, even if we aren't adopted siblings anymore, like she always says so long as we hold onto our feelings in our heart, we'll always be family in heart and spirit whatever that last part means" he frowned lightly.
"Good, because it's true and Sakura is actually Hagoromo Otsutsuki, the Sage of Six Paths, biological daughter, and the spirits of her birth brothers reside in the both of you, hence you're insane closeness to one another" there it was now all out in the open.
Sasuke and Naruto shared a look with each other as their skin paled "Wait you mean in spirit we're all really siblings" Sasuke grimaced "What do her real brothers look like, surely not like us right" he asked believing what he'd been told.
As did Naruto, Shisui was being way to serious for them not to after all "Doubt it, but if Sakura-chan's a time traveler, how come her old man shoved her here, did he not want her or something, is it because of her ability to see the future" the blonde felt horrible.
"I have no idea what her real brothers look like, those questions are something you need to ask Sakura-chan, in private only is that understood, if people find out about the truth, Sakura will be hunted down and enslaved by despicable people" Shisui stressed the importance of keeping what had been revealed secret.
Both of them saluted in response and he took them back to the other training grounds, checking over his friend once more before reporting in to Fugaku as promised, Naruto and Sasuke were quiet when they returned, and contemplative.
Now that they'd been told, they could feel the odd connection between each other, Sakura connecting them and making them whole, it was strange really, but they didn't hate it, in fact they were glad that all of them were siblings, even if the two of them were only in spirit.
Sakura slept clear to 3:13 in the afternoon before waking with a content sigh, only to wig out when she realized that Sasuke and Naruto were staring at her, her heart sped up "Did something happen while I was out" she asked hesitantly.
"Oh yeah something big Sakura-chan" Naruto's blue eyes twinkled with an inner light, it made her wary, she'd never seen him so happy unless he was talking about ramen or becoming the future hokage down the road when he was older.
The second Uchiha Heir nodded in agreement "Definitely and we'll have you know Sakura-chan we're glad that you consider us family" Sasuke winked hinting to the fact he knew, her heart dropped into her stomach "We accept you as family to" he hurriedly finished.
And her heart was right back to where it was supposed to be, they were accepting the truth, they hadn't rejected her, relief filled her features and both boys relaxed, "Well guess you lied when you said you weren't a whore after all huh" a voice washed over them again.
Everyone turned to take in the teal eyed blonde "WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE CALLING THAT FILFTHY NAME" Naruto snarled pissed off to the max fury radiating off of him in waves.
"Naruto ignore her, she's just sore, because her brother keeps picking stupid fights with me and they get scolded I bet" Sakura didn't even glance in the teenage girls direction rising to her feet and dusting off her clothes.
It wasn't even worth it to get into another scuffle with the Sand Shinobi "Bu..But Sakura-chan it's not right, especially when you've never even kissed a boy before" Sasuke scowled at the blonde, just as furious, they'd just learned after all "Right" he caught sight of the rising blush.
Omoi coughed and avoided looking in the girls direction "Er not directly, it can't even be counted as a real kiss cause it wasn't on the lips" her whole face turned beet red, as did her neck, and knee's and ears, they all burned hotly in embarrassment.
As she remembered Omoi shoving that bloody sucker in her mouth after it had been in his own and calling out that it was an indirect kiss, never had anyone seen someone blush so bad to the point their entire body practically turned red in embarrassment.
Darui and Cee were extremely amused, while Karui looked confused until she spied Omoi avoiding looking in the pinkette's direction his own face turning red as he to remembered pulling that stunt with the sucker.
None of them were paying Temari anymore attention at this point "Oh just what happened while you were here on you're two week break Omoi" Darui grinned grabbing the white haired preteen a smirk forming on his lips.
"I gave Sakura-chan a sucker" he offered sheepishly face flushing at a much faster rate now as he'd been dragged into the conversation, Sakura's blush turned three shades darker and she completely turned away from Omoi unable to stare him in the eye now.
"Uh huh what kind of a sucker" Cee edged closer joining in on the teasing of the two preteens, he just had this suspicion "Wait don't tell me one that you'd already…" his words trailed off as the two turned even redder than before.
This was just to much and they all cracked up laughing "STOP IGNORING ME" Temari shouted from behind them waving her fan and a blast of cutting wind swept them all off their feet, Mei, Ao and Chojuro to far away to get hit by the attack.
"You are the bane of my existence right now, you better freaking watch you're back or I'll knock you down from the pedestal you've put yourself on you bitch" the blonde sneered and then vanished from the training grounds after making her threat.
Sakura sighed as her embarrassment faded and all the amusement was sucked out of the air "Great, just great" she rubbed her face, this was just turning out to be a bloody fantastic week, 'Not' she finished inwardly with exhausted groan.
"That lady has issues" Karui snorted as they wandered from the training field intending to split up for the day "I'm hungry though all that commotion kind of made my lunch digest faster" she frowned not liking the Sand Shinobi anymore, not that she had in the first place.
Mei, Ao and Chojuro were left behind "Does anyone get the feeling we are really being left out of the loop" Ao glowered after the pinkette, seriously what was up with that girl, why couldn't she just tell them what was going on.
"I agree Ao, you and Chojuro keep an eye on her, try to catch her alone if you can and see if you can't get the truth out of her" Mei ordered, no matter how much of a liking she'd taken to the girl, she just felt as if something serious was about to go down and it wasn't right they weren't being told.
Chojuro fiddled with the edge of his squared glasses, onyx eyes taking on an interested gleam, "Ye..Yeah" he stuttered, perhaps it was time to try a different tactic, she seemed to get embarrassed easily around boys, a plot formed in his mind and he nodded to himself as they headed to the hotel.
Two days later he had his chance as Sakura was sent outside the village "Do you think you could gather some herbs, the hospital is gonna need them" Tsunade had told her "Already got permission from the Hokage" she tossed her adopted daughter a scroll.
That gave her strict permission to leave the village, even if she wasn't a participant of the Chunin Exams this time around, she still had to obey the rules "Okay Mom" Sakura grabbed a wicker basket from the closet, this one being much larger and many little bags to fill with herbs.
And headed out the door, Karui going off to spend time with Omoi for a bit until she returned from her task, of course like thought Sakura was stopped at the gates "Hold it there girly no one is allowed to leave the village" Kotetsu called out.
"I know, unless you get permission right Kotetsu-san, Izumo-san" she smiled kindly at the two chunin, who always talked to her if she was passing by on her way to collect Momo and Joki from the academy, just for a few minutes anyway.
Izumo nodded "Exactly so do you have permission kid" he didn't look up only took the scroll that was held out to him and he unrolled it to read what was within "Okay go do what you've been told" he shooed her off letting her sign out.
Sakura turned on her heel and vanished out the gates, it was scary being alone actually, or not as she spied a bit of green a familiar jonin vest out of the corner of her eye 'Shisui' she should have known he wouldn't let her be by herself as she reached the herb garden outside the village.
Then bent and started picking what was needed carefully adding leaves, roots, and the whole plant to the little baggies, knowing each one by heart thanks to Cee and Ino, those two spoiled her with books on medicinal plants all the time on her birthday.
Just a little under an hour and she was all done and back within the village, Shisui returned to his previous task of patrol while Sakura dropped off the herbs at the hospital for Tsunade "Oh thank you Sakura-chan, you're a life saver" Shizune exclaimed happily.
Glad to see her mentors adopted daughter doing so well "Yeah we medics have to stick together after all right Shizune-san" Sakura grinned returning to the lobby and leaving the hospital, her mini-mission complete, she was ready to relax, two days was all that was left before the exams.
She was a little to lost in thought so that's why she wasn't prepared when a body rammed right into her "Pa..Pardon me" a voice said from above her and Sakura blinked her emerald eyes to spy Chojuro, they'd both fallen on the ground "Here let me help" he held out his hand politely.
It made her a little wary, but she accepted his hand anyway "Did you do that on purpose, I'm usually pretty good at avoiding walking into someone, my senses are honed very well" Sakura asked cautiously.
"N..Now wh..why would I do so..something like that" he stuttered, but she could tell he was faking it, Chojuro however didn't release her hand like she thought he would, proving he did have ulterior motives.
Until Sakura found herself being dragged into an alley, kami how strong was this boy, she thought finding herself trapped completely, she could use her seals but she wanted to save up on chakra, let her reserves build without gathering sage chakra.
Her emerald eyes narrowed "What do you want Chojuro-san" there was always the possibility of flaring her chakra, but she didn't want to be rescued all the time by someone else, she wasn't a damsel in distress.
Chojuro smiled gently "The truth, I'm prepared to use any means necessary to get it out of you" he stopped with the stuttering completely now that they were alone and out of sight of people, civilians really, though a shinobi could always stumble across them.
"Do you really think you'll be able to handle it, let alone keep the secret and not hound me about it once you do learn" Sakura stated peeking surreptitiously upwards, if she could get a boost of chakra, she could jump and flee, but then again that would be using her chakra.
And that was something she didn't want to do, Chojuro frowned lightly "We just don't want to be kept out of the loop Sakura-san, if somethings going to happen, we need to know as well don't you think" the teenager took a step closer.
While she took a step back as she figured out what he was planning, though Sakura knew he was right, they were here to, would be until the end of the exams, she chewed on her lip in thought "Promise me that you won't cause me trouble over this" she activated a sound proofing/barrier tag.
The boy tilted his head to the side, walking another step forward closing in, he wouldn't let her escape, not this time "I can assure you that myself, Ao and Mizukage-sama won't breathe a word of what you say" Chojuro stated.
Sakura felt like a cornered rabbit "Orochimaru plans on attempting a coup by using the Sand Shinobi and Sound Shinobi and try to destroy the Leaf Village, with help of that red haired boy and killing Hokage-san" she omitted a lot, like leaving out how she knew all this.
"Really Sakura-san" he was way to close at this point and she could feel her face heating up "But you still aren't telling me how you know all this" Chojuro smiled warmly, all her lessons from Yugito were failing her in this moment.
Her body went completely tense "Please step back a little Chojuro-san" her hands came up in defense and pushed lightly against his chest in warning, she couldn't breathe damn it as if she was being suffocated by invisible hands.
It was a warning he didn't heed in fact Chojuro edged closer until their faces were way to close for comfort "Why are you embarrassed Sakura-san" he could see the blush taking over her face and hear her heart pounding loudly in her chest.
"I won't tell you if you don't back up" Sakura warned once more this reminded her way to much of that disgusting bandit from her first C ranked mission with Darui and Cee, in which she'd met the person of her nightmares from her childhood.
Chojuro narrowed his onyx eyes but did as requested this time sensing it would be wise "There you go Sakura-san a promise is a promise" he took three steps back allowing her to calm down for a few minutes and settle her heart.
Sakura inhaled and exhaled a couple of times "I'm a seer, I have prophetic dreams, it's a kekkeigenkai" spilled from her lips "Now let me out of this alley I can't breathe in here" she demanded panic welling up on her.
He didn't move though instead caught her by the shoulders as she tried to rush past him "Wait a second all of them know then, where did you get such a kekkeigenkai" Chojuro returned her to her previous position.
"Chojuro-san if you don't move I'm going to hit you" her heart was once again accelerated to the point she felt as if it was going to burst out of her chest "Really I feel like I'm being suffocated in this alley" she said.
The teenager shook his head "Where did you get such a kekkeigenkai" he repeated stepping closer despite the rising panic in the girls eyes, why was she so afraid of people learning her ability, it was great.
"I don't know, I was born with it, how does one get a kekkeigenkai, it's in their parents blood now let me go and don't go thinking it's great, because it' not, it's a curse and I hate it with every fiber of my be…" the last word was cut off.
As his hand covered her mouth "Calm down Sakura-san, I'm not going to hurt you" Chojuro soothed feeling her raised pulse, it was through the roof, he was pretty sure anymore and she would have had a heart attack on him.
Her body relaxed against the wall as her apprehension faded "You don't know what it's like Chojuro-san, to see people die and knowing it's going to happen, and then sometimes, you don't even get a warning" Sakura mumbled quietly.
Chojuro grimaced, he was nearly two heads taller than the pinkette so he had to look down at her from his close position "Can it be sealed, is that why you wanted to protect Zabuza-san, because you saw his death" now her unusual protectiveness made sense "Does he know" he asked.
Sakura shook her head "No, it's not something physical, it's dreams, nightmares really and yes, Naruto and Sasuke would have been devastated and after getting to know him, so would I and yeah he knows, it kind of slipped out actually" she looked down.
Noticing once again how close this boy was to her and not liking it, why was she always the one dealing with problems like this, it kind of wasn't fair "You called it a curse" Chojuro murmured glancing over his shoulder, he could feel Ao looking for him.
"Yes when you see people die in a dream for half you're life and get to know people before you dream about them, while the dreams manifest themselves as nightmares to the point where….I strangle myself sometimes in my sleep when I have them it's a curse to me" Sakura finished.
He was horrified "The bruises on you're neck then and the red lines indicating you scratched yourself as well" he pointed out carefully suppressing his chakra to nonexistent levels, he was a jonin after all much like Ao.
"It started when I was eight only the third time I had a prophetic dream" she admitted softly "The scratching started a couple nights ago, it starts as flashes and then progresses and sometimes I see images during the day like with that guy who tried to attack Sasuke" Sakura continued.
Chojuro glanced over his shoulder once more "I swear Sakura-san, that I will only Mizukage-sama and Ao, part of the truth, you're secret is safe with me" he smiled down at her kindly and bent to brush his lips against her cheek.
Which chose that moment to erupt in a bright red blush of embarrassment, it being the second time someone had kissed her on the cheek, Kiba being the first and now Chojuro, before the blue haired teenager was gone and Sakura found herself alone "Bloody males" she glared at the ground.
Rubbing her cheek as she took down the soundproofing/barrier tag combo she always carried on her in case "Is there a reason you're scrubbing at you're face until it's all red" a voice snorted from behind her as she finally left the alley.
Sakura whipped around to spy Gaara, her heart about stopped in fear right there, as she realized that the street that they were on was empty of any and all civilians, not even a shinobi was passing through and once again she was alone with a boy, this time a very dangerous one.
"Ah something wet got on it, it wasn't a very nice feeling" she slowed her heart and breathed out calmly hiding her nervousness behind a smile, it was everything she was currently not feeling at the moment, but it did the trick.
Gaara shrugged and turned down the street "Do you often just sit in alleys" he asked gesturing with his head that he wanted her to follow him and Sakura obliged, not daring to disobey, that would be detrimental to her health and life by extension.
"No, but I didn't really have much of a choice this time, do you ever…..never mind, I don't think you've ever felt trapped and cornered to the point where you feel like your suffocating right" Sakura rubbed at the back of her neck sheepishly.
Doing her best not to completely freak out and run, he narrowed his pale green eyes and shot her a sideways glance "My sister and brother are quite furious with you, they plan on getting even if they ever catch you alone" he warned.
Sakura nodded her head in understanding "Roger that, I solemnly swear to always be around someone" she smiled again as fear bubbled through her veins and crept on her, not yet, she couldn't let it take over yet.
Pleased she was heeding his warning, Gaara turned on his heel to face her and she nearly walked right into him "I hope that we get to fight during the exams" he hinted at mysteriously, before vanishing in a swirl of sand.
Her heart jolted and she about fell to her knee's but Sakura forced herself to keep walking even if she felt sick to her stomach 'Okay Dad I'm really beginning to question your sanity right now' she glared up at the sky hoping Hagoromo heard her.
'Cause there is no way I'll ever be able to befriend that guys tailed beast, the Sand Spirit, Shukaku' Sakura said inwardly having learned what the tailed beasts names were via one of the books he'd left her.
As she turned onto a path that was filled to the brim with people, shinobi and civilians alike "Was wondering where you disappeared to" Ao's voice came from behind her this time and Sakura craned her neck around to meet the man's gaze of one gray eye to be exact.
"If you're going to ask for the truth, go find Chojuro-san, I already told him" she grumbled clearly no longer in the mood to talk to anyone, he gave her a surprised look as he fell into step with her as they walked down the street.
Gray eye narrowed "What changed you're mind not that I'm complaining because no doubt Chojuro will tell myself and Mizukage-sama, but why, when you were clearly against it not but two days ago" he was cautious.
Sakura rubbed at her temples feeling a headache forming behind her forehead "You need to know, I only gave up information that I know that's all" she sped forward as her house came into view "Good day Ao-san" she wasn't going to leave this wooden structure at all for the next two days.
To say that Mei and Ao were sickened by what was going to happen was an understatement when Chojuro finally did tell them, but when asked how the pinkette knew, he simply said he didn't know and it was left at that, he kept his promise of not giving the whole truth it was the least he could do.
Despite her promise of not leaving the house, Sakura was out and about the next day only because Nagato asked her to go see if he'd received any messages from Yahiko and Konan who were out of the village on business and would be back the morning of the final round.
She sighed and headed for where the carrier pigeons were kept just less than four blocks away Sakura realized someone was walking beside her "I told them" came Chojuro's voice and she took four steps away from him, eyes narrowed.
"I won't let you corner me again, I haven't seen anymore so don't ask" she huffed with a glower, he merely smiled and continued walking with her as if she hadn't created distance between them, it was sort of his fault really.
Chojuro grinned inwardly, it was kind of fun teasing her "So what are you doing today Sakura-san" he wasn't even stuttering anymore, which was kind of creepy and she shot him a look that clearly said he was being weird.
"Running an errand for my Uncle, he asked me to check to see if he's gotten any messages from other family members" but Sakura did answer him as they reached the building where the carrier pigeons were held and started climbing the stairs.
Him on her heels the duo didn't get to far as someone started down the stairs "Haruno-san, I have some messages for Nagato-san" pushed the scrolls into her hand and turned her around, Chojuro naturally following her.
"Well that was weird" he frowned though it didn't seem the girl was to bothered really by the odd treatment she'd gotten from the man as they'd both been pushed out of the building practically to avoid having them go up to the top.
Sakura shrugged "Not really, that always seems to happen" walking absentmindedly along and not paying attention to anything, she'd slept pretty good that night, she was sure the outcome of her dream was completely changed after all, hence why it was no longer plaguing her.
Of course she could be completely wrong Chojuro went to ask something else, when someone stopped in front of them "Forehead" a girl with purple hair stated in a flat tone and emerald eyes snapped to the female.
"For crying out loud Ami, stop it with the damn nickname, you aren't a child anymore" Sakura said in an equally as flat voice "You know what I don't have time to deal with you and your pettiness today, so go find someone else to bother" and brushed past the girl.
Ami reached out to snag Sakura's wrist "Wait I…I need you're help" she admitted, looking the shyest Sakura had ever seen the girl who'd tried to torment her from day one, who also narrowed her eyes in response to her statement.
Lifting a slender pink brow "Just why should I help you Ami, give me one good reason" Sakura put a hand on her hip, she really needed to get these messages to Nagato, but if Ami was actually growing up, it might be worth it to listen to the girl.
The purple haired girl fidgeted "Because you're miss goody two-shoes p..plus it's my little brother h..he wandered off and now no one can find him, I don't have any friends anymore, you were right, I'm a horrible, horrible person..but I can't abandon my baby brother" she practically shouted.
Sakura's eyes widened and her finger twitched "Give me five minutes Ami, don't you dare move" this was a child's life after all that was at stake, the children needed to be protected, they were the new future that came after them.
Then she was gone off down the street, leaving behind Ami and Chojuro, who was going to tag along and help out, he also didn't like the thought that a little kid was lost somewhere in the Leaf Village and wanted to find him.
Like promised Sakura was back five minutes later "Right where should we look first" Chojuro asked and she realized he was still there, Ami looked shocked that not only was the girl she'd detested helping her but a literal stranger.
"M..My brother likes the park this is a picture of him" she held up a photograph of a little purple haired boy, then they were off to begin their search, in the end it didn't take very long to find the child as he was actually at the park and both siblings were quickly reunited.
It made Sakura wonder if it hadn't been some kind of ploy, the boy looked to young, and the hair fake "We should go Chojuro-san" a foreboding feeling creeped up on her and she looked around warily as the sky grew dark.
The feeling hit her like a ton of bricks just as a jolt of chakra was pushed into her body, foreign and completely not her own, she blinked her eyes snapping out of the genjutsu "That was a close call" the teenager smiled removing his hands from her shoulder.
Dread pooled in her stomach "We need to leave this area now Chojuro-san" Sakura's body grew rigid "That was a jonin level genjutsu" she explained as they turned and fled the park, Ami and little boy no where in sight like before.
"Right you're lucky I was here Sakura-san, I'm a Jonin and I sensed it instantly, but how did you figure out the level so quickly" Chojuro pointed out as they entered a street that was full of people, and some shinobi.
Sakura breathed out in relief "I have an aptitude for genjutsu, it took me a couple seconds though and I was about to break myself out before you did that" she stated, looking around warily remembering Gaara's warning from the other day.
Chojuro tilted his head to the side "Do you think it was an attempt by that Sand girl, she did say that she would get revenge after all" he said carefully onyx eyes narrowed on the pink haired girl as she paced along at his side.
And nodded "Yes I do, Gaara told me to watch out because both Temari-san and Kankuro-san want to get revenge on me, even if it's their own fault" Sakura announced quietly kami she wasn't even safe in her own home anymore this was freaking ridiculous.
The teenager sighed "You really do get in trouble everywhere you go don't you Sakura-san" he shook his head lightly "Do you think that girl was part of the plot to get revenge as well" he asked now that he was thinking about the odd situation.
Sakura scowled "Of course, Ino has never mentioned Ami having a brother, much less a baby one, it was entirely to convenient how she guessed he was at the park, she hates my guts, so there's no doubt in my mind she was part of their plot to get me alone" she glowered at the ground.
"What they didn't count on was me though" Chojuro guessed realizing just how lucky Sakura actually was that he'd decided to tag along even if it had been just a fake situation to lure them into a false sense of security.
Once again she nodded "Exactly, I don't know what their planning but it can't be anything good" Sakura shuddered lightly, this was why she hated strangers, never knew what they were really like after all and they could turn into complete crazy lunatics.
Things were being taken way to far now her hands clenched into fists "Look Sakura-san" Chojuro grabbed one of her hands "You shouldn't be alone until after the end of the exams tomorrow" he said carefully making sure his voice was lowered.
Sakura lifted a brow "You think" she snorted grabbing her hand back and holding it close to her chest, daring him to try and hold it again "I already know I'm a danger magnet" her lips pressed together and she took four steps back eyes narrowed.
Chojuro's lips curved upwards in amusement "Easily embarrassed around boys huh, what has that one fellow never held you're hand before" he teased and her face blush three shades darker in response clearly not liking being teased.
"Not seeing how it's you're business actually but Omoi and I have held hands plenty, however we aren't ready for a relationship as romance really isn't in the job description, plus we're only twelve, well not Karui, she's already thirteen" Sakura explained.
He blinked his onyx eyes "So you two like each other and yet your not acting on you're feelings because you don't think you're ready, such little children" Chojuro shook his head "It's kind of cute I guess" he laughed warmly.
Her eye twitched "A relationship would just interfere with missions right now and cause us to not think straight b…besides w..we made a promise th..that when we're older we're definitely going to give it a shot" she blurted out.
His brows raised in response "What when you're twenty, don't you think by then you'll have grown out of you're little crushes, by then anyone else that had been interested in you or him will have moved on as well" he said.
Sakura's face turned a little darker "It's deeper than a crush I..I really like Omoi-kun" she fidgeted in embarrassment "It's not love, I know it's more than just a silly childhood crush" her fingers twisted into the material of her dress.
"Tell me then Sakura-san have you two kissed how do you know it's more than a simple crush, when you could be mistaking you're feelings" he was trying to get her so worked up that she ran, he could tell it would be soon.
Her face turned redder than before as that sucker incident popped into her head "N..No, bu..but that doesn't mean it won't happen eventually" Sakura burst out, suddenly realizing that there was once again no one on the street and she was alone with a boy.
Emerald green eyes widened and Chojuro saw the moment she freaked out and made a break for it, he let her go for some time "Cute" he grinned chasing after her, he had no intentions of harming the girl, just teasing her to the point where she went insane.
Chojuro caught her easily, being a jonin and her only a genin despite her increasing her speed with chakra "You know that's the second time, third if you count the alley, that I've caught you Sakura-san" he pointed out.
Sakura glared tried to twist her arm from his grasp, there was no way in hell "Please I wasn't even using chakra that time if I wanted to get away I would, but I'm saving my chakra for tomorrow" she glared even more.
"Why are you picking on me anyway, aren't I a little to young for you, I mean you are seventeen" so she'd correctly guessed his age, not a surprise, he sensed she was good at those sorts of things, however it didn't mean he was going to let her get away easily.
His lips twisted upwards into a smile "Did you know that boys always pick on girls they like, say how would like to have you're first kiss" Chojuro teased lightly what he didn't expect was for Sakura to rip her arm from his grasp.
"N..Not from you, I'm saving it for someone else" and then vanished in nothing more than a flash of pink, apparently she wasn't afraid to use her seals to get away in certain situations, by the next day her chakra would be fully restored and at one hundred percent.
By the time it was the next day Sakura knew all that was going to happen during the Chunin Exams, she gathered all of her weapons and made sure she was stocked up on chakra restoration pills and another seal that she drew, Kakashi having the other one.
She wouldn't have time to look for him in the chaos after all "So you get to watch us beat up on those guys huh Sakura-chan, you are lucky that you're Kage guy came here to see the event" Naruto chattered excitedly that morning during breakfast.
Drawing a smile to her lips she was to unnaturally quiet it worried everyone to be honest, "Yeah good luck Naruto, and you better win against Neji" Sakura bumped her shoulder against his as they left the house.
All of them splitting up, the three former Hokage to the Third Hokage, as did the Raikage and Mizukage, their escorts headed for the arena that was hosting the final round, Tsunade and Konan headed for the hospital, Irakusa with them and four children while Momo and Joki went to class.
Yahiko and Nagato were going to be in the arena as were the Uchiha, Fugaku at it's head leading the UPF, along side his eldest son and Shisui, they were blending in with the crowd "Better believe I will Sakura-chan, what he did to Hinata-chan was horrible" Naruto grumbled.
"Good and as much as Neji is my friend, he deserves to have his butt kicked" her emerald eyes sparkled in amusement as Karui and Omoi joined her while the blonde ran off to join the other final round contestants.
Both of her friends were going to be at her side in the crowd section "So today's the day, how do you think everything is going to go down" Omoi glanced around warily, it had been a struggle not mentioning Sakura's Seer Ability.
"Have you thought up anymore" Karui asked carefully never sure when someone was trying to eavesdrop on them, it was ridiculous to be honest, but at least the Mist Shinobi and Mizukage had stopped stalking them.
Sakura tugged on their hands and looked forward "Whatever happens, will happen, all we can do is face it head on and win" she spoke determinedly, peridot eyes glinting with a fire, the Leaf Village as much of her home as the Cloud Village was, she was going to protect it with her entire self.
The sections were starting to fill up by the time they arrived, so the three friends/teammates found a spot to sit in one of the lower levels, so they were closer, this didn't go unnoticed by Darui or Cee, who happened to be in that particular section themselves.
"You don't think their plotting anything do you" Cee tilted his head to the side, admittedly the both of them were worried, Sakura would do anything to ensure that nothing went wrong, including going so far as to throw herself in harms way.
Darui pressed his lips together onyx eyes focused on his little apprentice and her two friends "I do, why choose this section after all, it's closer to the arena, it would allow them a quicker reaction time" he nodded in the next moment.
Cee cursed under his breath promising himself to keep an eye on them and make sure none of the preteens tried anything reckless, he didn't think Omoi or Karui would, but Sakura definitely, she was completely selfless like that.
Also in this section were Chojuro and Ao, so that they were closer when the action started and would be able to react quicker, but they weren't oblivious and noticed that the girl who knew what was going to happen was in the section as well.
With the two other Cloud Genin and all of them were holding hands staring at the ground as the final round contestants showed up, Naruto, Gaara, Temari, Kankuro, Shino, Shikamaru, Neji "Sasuke's missing and so is one other" Sakura commented quietly.
"Do you think Kakashi-san is still training him, that's a little crazy, he'd be out of chakra before his fight even began" Karui frowned "And what about the last one, do you think he dropped out" she breathed out.
Omoi shook his head "No I don't think that's it, he was one of those Sound Guys, maybe something happened, someone got to him" he mused deep in thought, though this time it wasn't one of his irrational fears.
Sakura nodded and they all stared forward again "Okay, okay welcome to the final round of the Chunin Exams, we've been informed that one contestant is dead and Sasuke Uchiha's round has been moved to the last one, so he's exempt from being here like the lot of you" the proctor began.
"Now if you punks are ready let the first round begin Naruto Uzumaki vs Neji Hyuga, the rest of you go up to the balcony" the man shooed his hands at the stairs and the genin moved towards it leaving the blonde and brunette on the field, to which the fight immediately began.