Orochimaru blinked as a person he hadn't seen in nearly seven months appeared before him "Sakura" he choked out and the pinkette nodded, with that Orochimaru pulled his sister in for a hug, "I missed this" he murmured into her ear.

"Silly Ni-san" Sakura giggled but wrapped her arms around her brothers neck and squeezed, while she enjoyed training the rain orphans, Sakura felt happiest in her village, "I'm home for a couple of weeks, Jiriaya is teaching them how to hunt so they will be gone for a couple weeks as well" she explained.

The raven haired man sighed "Good because I'm pretty sure if I had, had to go an entire year without seeing you I would have gone insane, it doesn't help that the Inuzuka women is trying to drive me up the wall always pestering me on your whereabouts" Orochimaru sulked.

Sakura tossed her head back and laughed "Oh man Tsume really is one of the craziest women on earth, no one else would be able to get away with pestering you like she could" she snickered at her brother, glad she was able to do so for the time being.

A small smile tilted the corners of Orochimaru's lips belying his true feelings "I'm glad your home even for that small amount of time" he finally released Sakura so they could walk side by side through the village to the Hokage Tower.

"So brother mine tell me all that's happened since I've been gone" Sakura rubbed her hands together wanting to find out if Tsunade had hooked up with Dan yet, if not then she would hunt the man down herself and shove him in the blondes direction.

Orochimaru snorted softly "Tsunade is in a relationship with a man named Dan Kato, it's a little sickening sometimes but really, he's good for her" he admitted and Sakura had to refrain from squealing, "What about your how are those four doing" Orochimaru questioned.

Sakura grinned and seeing her chance to get her brother use to her three little students, "Well Yahiko, he's the little orange haired boy, he's really brave but he is also very kind" she started after making sure Orochimaru was listening closely.

"I see and let me guess is the boy just as enraptured with you as Nawaki is" Orochimaru chuckled softly when Sakura giggled but nodded her head sagely "Ah well you did always seem to have a way at soothing children" Orochimaru announced calmly.

"Konan is the little girl, she adores me and I've basically become her idol, for the last seven months I've been teaching her medical ninjutsu and let me tell you, she's blossomed beautifully" Sakura clapped her hands together excitedly.

Orochimaru shook his head, he should have known "You really are something else imouto-chan, and this time apart has made me realize that sometimes I was an ass to you but no more I've turned over a new leaf so to speak" he stated clearly for his sister's ears only.

Surprise entered her emerald eyes and this time Sakura couldn't hold back the squeal "Oni-san that's great, I'm really happy for you" she gripped Orochimaru to her and squeezed tightly trying to let her brother know just how much she truly loved him.

Not having expected such a warm hug from his casually stated announcement, Orochimaru slowly wrapped his arms around his sister and let all the love she held for him seep into his very being, "Thank you Imouto-chan" Orochimaru murmured softly.

The kami just then erased all the anger and hate that Orochimaru held essentially turning him into a new person as he had wished, when the two siblings separated, Sakura's emerald eyes bored deep into his gold and she knew that she had to tell him the truth now.

"After we talk to Sarutobi-sensei, do you think we can go on a picnic just the two of us" Sakura fidgeted nervously, when Orochimaru flashed her a smile, Sakura's mind went numb at the purity of it and knew it was the work of the kami.

Threading his arm through his sisters Orochimaru grinned yet again "Absolutely Imouto-chan, I want to hear all about your adventures with those orphans you took in with Jiraiya" he chattered in her ear the rest of the way to the tower.

Hiruzen nearly dropped his pen when a person he hadn't seen or heard from in seven months tumbled through his office door with a laughing Orochimaru "I feel as if I'm missing something" Hiruzen sighed as the two lay in a heap on the floor of his office just laughing the day away.

Finally Sakura sat up and wiped away the tears that had formed in her mirth "Meet me at home Ni-san" she gently pulled Orochimaru to his feet and ushered him out the door so that she could talk privately with her old friend.

Once Orochimaru was gone, Hiruzen activated the sound proofing seal and without wasting a single second, leaped from his chair and crossed the room in two strides to pull the pinkette into his arms for their first hug in ages.

"Gods Sakura, do you have any idea how much I've been worried about you" Hiruzen frowned once he pulled away, Sakura smiled and her eyes lit up with a knowing light, letting him know that she indeed know how much he had worried.

Sakura cleared her throat "The kami have taken away all the rage and anger Orochimaru has felt so he won't turn as he did before, sorry it took me so long to get back here those children are quite the handful" she explained her long absence.

Shaking his head, Hiruzen sat down once more and gestured to the seat before his desk, Sakura folded herself into the chair "Tell me Sakura why it is you do things by your own rule" he sulked, he was still put out with the woman for not telling him that the mission all those months ago was that one.

Rubbing the back of her head sheepishly, Sakura flashed him a grin "Well the kami didn't tell me a single thing and I've had to figure out most of this by myself along the way" she sent a scowl to the heavens but there was no real anger behind it any longer.

"Oh" Hiruzen deflated at that not having expected that answer "Tell me what of Jiraiya how does he fare with the orphans" he cleared his throat wanting to get as much as he could from the pinkette before she decided to traipse off like she always did.

"Jiraiya is doing quite well, trying to write his book actually" Sakura's eyes glittered in amusement as she spoke, which told Hiruzen that there was quite a hilarious story behind it "And the three rain orphans have grown exponentially" Sakura finished.

Hope entered Hiruzen at that "So that means you'll be able to come home soon right" he asked only to be shut down when Sakura shook her head and heaved a sigh, Hiruzen sulked "What am I to tell the others" he asked softly.

Grimacing at the mention of her other friends, Sakura pressed her face into her hands "Just tell them oh kami they won't get to spend much time with me when I get back either because I'll have to jump right up and save Dan" she sighed.

"So that means you'll be leaving soon and moving forward through time" Hiruzen frowned deeply but knew better than to say anything even though he so dearly wished he could "Go spend time with your brother and anyone you can" Hiruzen dismissed Sakura with a glance.

Sprinting from the Hokage Tower, Sakura sped down the streets and crashed into a bulky body, looking up she found herself caught in the onyx eyes of "Izuna-san" Sakura recognized him immediately before she found herself wrapped in a hug.

"Sakura where on earth have you been, it's like you vanished from the village" Izuna chided her, now that she was back, he wasn't letting her go ever again, to many things could happen to her out in the world and Sakura was safest here in the village.

Sakura squeezed her eyes shut "I'm sorry Izuna, I promised Orochimaru that I'd spend the day with him maybe tomorrow we can all get together and spend some time out in the flower field" she suggested as she wiggled herself out of Izuna's still rather strong hold.

Izuna watched her go with saddened eyes, maybe she was trying to spare them the hurt feelings that were bound to come up when she left this era and moved forward to the next, with that in mind Izuna headed off to tell everyone about the picnic Sakura had invited them on.

Orochimaru was waiting for her with a basket full of goodies "Choza's wife taught me how to cook" he told his sister as she grabbed up the picnic blanket "To the flower field" Orochimaru guessed and Sakura nodded threading her arm through his as they walked back to the gates.

"This is nice" Sakura sighed as the breeze ruffled her now shoulder blade length hair, having not encountered any enemy, she had let it grow out for the time being but as soon as there was a fight it would be the first thing to go.

"So tell me imouto-chan, about the third orphan since I kind of interrupted you" Orochimaru drew Sakura's attention onto himself, the pinkette's face lit up in a beautiful smile and he knew that the last little boy was the one Sakura favored above all else.

"His name is Nagato, he's a real sweetheart, his soul is gentle and though he cries a lot, he's willing to train to become strong" Sakura tilted her head to the skies "Nagato the poor boy none of them deserved to have their families killed" she frowned deeply.

Orochimaru frowned along with his sister before asking the most important question "How much longer are you going to be there to train them" he questioned lightly not wanting to destroy the good mood that had settled over them at the start of their picnic.

Tilting her head to the side now, Sakura shrugged her shoulders "A couple more years" she sighed and Orochimaru sulked at her "Sorry Orochimaru-ni, but Jiraiya and I want to make sure they are able to protect themselves as best they can" she smiled sadly at him.

Twenty minutes later once the food had been devoured, Orochimaru asked another question "So tell me what it's like taking care of three children and Jiraiya, surely you do more work than him because he's more like a child himself" Orochimaru snorted.

Sakura scoffed "I think not brother, you underestimate Jiriaya sometimes just because he's a great big buffoon sometimes doesn't mean he's any less than a ninja, and really we split the work equally between each other, so no one does more work than the other" she told him.

Shock that Jiraiya actually could be quite mature, Orochimaru delved deep into thoughts trying to remember other times and found several memories of Jiraiya behaving exactly as Sakura described him "Your right, and when you come back I'll apologize to him" Orochimaru announced.

Flashing her brother a pretty smile, Sakura took a deep breath "Look Orochimaru-ni, I have a confession to make" she started slowly and like she thought, his head snapped in her direction before leaning forward.

"What is it imouto-chan, that would make you make a face like that" Orochimaru inquired gently, Sakura's face was twisted in sadness and regret, and he never again wanted to see such an expression on his sister's features.

Emerald eyes turning sad, Sakura swallowed thickly around the lump that formed in her throat "Oni-san, what if I told you that I'm not really your sister" she pushed forward despite the nagging fear that Orochimaru would reject the idea completely.

Black brow raised in confusion, Orochimaru motioned with his hands for Sakura to continue "And what if I told you that I'm from the future come back to save you all on the kami's whim" she gulped before falling silent.

"If all of that was true Sakura, then that would explain why you don't hold the Toigatta features except for the purple marks around your eyes" Orochimaru chose his words carefully not quite sure what to think about his sister's admission.

Suddenly Orochimaru could pick out several instances that Sakura had changed into a completely different person and knew that what his sister had said was the truth "Orochimaru-ni" Sakura squeezed his shoulder and Orochimaru gave a start.

"I believe you" Orochimaru stated simply as he drew out of his thoughts, Sakura's eyes lit up like the emeralds they resembled "How come you never said so before, I'm sure I would have believed you back then as well" he was talking about their childhood days.

Sheepish, Sakura rubbed the back of her head "Well back then I didn't think about telling you because along with this life I also have to go to another one, I have many more tasks to complete for the kami" she explained with a wistful smile on her lips.

"Your the will of the kami then come back to save lives, who all have you saved so far, you owe me that much" Orochimaru asked gently though his golden eyes held trepidation, what if Sakura had been sent back to save someone that's not him.

Smiling in spite of herself, Sakura ticked off her fingers "Well my first life I was to save Hashirama, Madara and Izuna, then of course I saved Kakuzu and Zetsu" she finished "The second life I saved the second Raikage and Lord Tobirama" her she snickered.

"And so far in this third life, I've saved you, Nawaki, the rain orphans, and then finally Tsunade's lover" Sakura finished before looking at Orochimaru to see the reaction her words engendered in her brother of this time period.

Shocked that she actually just came out and told him, Orochimaru stuttered "Wha..what" he asked seriously confused, he just couldn't believe that Sakura had come back to save him and why had he needed to be saved in the first place, though looking at his sister, he didn't think she'd tell him that.

"Yeah, look Orochimaru in the old time line you weren't a very good person, the kami decided to give you a second chance and that's why I was born as your sister" Sakura clenched her jaw as she spoke, it was difficult but she got the truth out for his sake.

Eyes flashing back to the day Sakura had been born and the immediate dislike his sister held for him, Orochimaru knew that whatever had happened between him and her in the old future couldn't be to good "Thank you for telling me the truth" Orochimaru mumbled feeling pretty low.

"Look Oni-san, let's just enjoy the rest of the day" Sakura replied in an upbeat voice and jumping to her feet ran through a list of songs she could sing and finally came across her first mothers old lullaby it was perfect for Orochimaru.

"Wandering child of the earth.
Do you know just how much you're worth?
You have walked this path since your birth.
You were destined for more.

There are those who'll tell you you're wrong.
They will try to silence your song.
But right here is where you belong.
So don't search anymore.

You are the dawn of a new day that's waking.
A masterpiece still in the making.
The blue in an ocean of gray.
You are right where you need to be.
Poised to inspire and to succeed.
You'll look back and you'll realize one day.

In your eyes there is doubt.
As you try to figure it out.
But that's not what life is about.
So have faith there's a way.

Though the world may try to define you.
It can't take the light that's inside you.
So don't you dare try to hide.
Let your fears fade away.

You are the dawn of a new day that's waking.
A masterpiece still in the making.
The blue in an ocean of gray.
You are right where you need to be.
Poised to inspire and to succeed.
You'll look back and you'll realize one day.

You are the dawn of a new day that's waking.
A masterpiece still in the making.
The blue in an ocean of gray.
You are right where you need to be.
Poised to inspire and to succeed.
Soon you'll finally find your own way."

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes in fondness treasuring this moment because he knew that he would never again be able to hear his sister sing like this someday, Orochimaru didn't know that he would be able to but it would be a long wait.

The rest of the two weeks Sakura had in the Leaf Village, she spend that time with each of her friends from the old days and the friends she had forged in her current time, "Do you have to go Sakura" Tsume sulked at her as she prepared to head back to Rain country,

"Yeah, I have three little cute orphans waiting for me" Sakura snickered and drew Tsume in for a hug and with that she was off, by the time she made it back, nearly a week later, the three orphans and Jiraiya were sitting down for dinner.

Four months later marked the end of the first year Sakura had spent outside the village for the longest time, it was a year well spent as she dodged an air blast from Nagato and sent Jiraiya a glare, the white haired man shrugged before getting slammed in the gut by Konan's fist.

"Nice work Konan-chan" Sakura grinned at her young disciple and grasped an errant wrist swinging Yahiko over her shoulder to fly through the air and slam into Jiraiya both males got the wind knocked out of them and Sakura smiled triumphantly.

Konan blushed prettily at her sensei "Thanks Sakura-sensei" she smiled before turning serious as Jiriaya sent a barrage of weapons at her, and thanks to Sakura's teachings dodged all but seven of the kunai and shuriken.

A couple hours later, the three children lay in a heap on the muddied ground utterly exhausted "Good gravy, Sakura-sensei you sure don't let up and go easy on us" Yahiko sulked rubbing his behind, it ached from the many times Sakura had sent him careening backwards into something or another.

"Nope, but that's only because I want you three to be the best you can" Sakura quipped before turning on her heel and leading the children and subsequently Jiraiya as well back to the hut they had been staying in for an entire year to eat dinner then head to bed.