The next few days proved to be comical as Gamakiri made his appearance, they'd all been on the training grounds when the green and yellow toad wearing orange lipstick and pink blush, complete with ribbon and purple eyes came in a plume of smoke the very next day.
Sakura whipped around eyes wide to Ohnoki, Mu, Kitsuchi, Han, Roshi, Akatsuchi and Kurotsuchi's amusement especially when the toad hopped forward "Gamakiri don't you dare" the pinkette eyeballed the green and yellow toad warily.
Glancing furtively to Darui and Cee, in hopes to make a break for it "Sakura-sweetie" Gamakiri was all smiles "Can't you stay out of trouble for one minute I'm going to have to punish you" there was a stern look in the toads purple eyes.
"You have to listen to you're summoner" Sakura waved her hands madly dodging to the side as that blasted purple ribbon came at her, she had no desire to be tied up in the thing after all "I mean it Gamakiri" she tried to sound confident.
But really she was terrified "It's just a bloody toad why are you so scared" Kurotsuchi frowned unknowingly insulting Gamakiri, Sakura pressed her hands to her face gaping at the older girl in shock as Gamakiri turned.
"NO, Enough Gamakiri" Sakura put some force behind the command jade eyes narrowed, he faced her once again a sour expression on his lips, her eyes softened in the next moment, she knew he'd only been worried after all.
There they went again appealing to her nurturing side "But Sakura-sweetie you could have died I would never be able to forgive myself" Gamakiri burst into a round of tears latching onto his unlikely summoner and hugging her to his chest.
Leaving everyone watching decidedly confused, except for Darui and Cee "Does he do this often" Ay grimaced not understanding how one could touch let alone be hugged by the slimy creatures known as toads.
His two bodyguards nodded sagely "That toad in particular is one no one ever wants to mess with Kurotsuchi-san you are pretty lucky the Kid managed to regain his attention or you'd probably be tied upside down in a ribbon from head to toe right now" the younger dark skinned male said.
Complete with a shudder and the ravenette edged backwards "Poor Sakura-san nearly met the same fate a few minutes ago" Akatsuchi dubbed remembering the purple ribbon that had been whipped out at her.
The blonde Cloud Jonin winced "Gamakiri is a spiteful toad especially if you take his ribbon, however he adores her for whatever reason, so long as one doesn't insult him, he'll like you, that's probably for the best anyway" Cee glanced at the odd duo.
Gamakiri was still squishing Sakura to his chest "How does she stand being touched by that thing" Kitsuchi had to ask, it was to freaky otherwise, he got looks and then it hit him "She was really raised on Mount Myoboku then" and got nods from the two Cloud Jonin.
"Well at least she gets along with her summons" Han commented, much like the tailed beasts, except for probably the nine tailed fox, that old fox was the most stubborn out of the whole lot of them and he didn't know how anyone could get along with that guy.
Just then Gamakiri finally relented with trying to crush Sakura and sat her down "Now Shima-sama has made you're favorite and I expect you to eat it all" he pulled out a basket missing the look of disgust.
"B..But Gamakiri I already ate breakfast, if I eat anymore I'll be sick" she was starting to back away again slowly, very slowly as Gamakiri set up the picnic basket complete with blanket and a plethora of Shima's cooking.
Face a picture of absolute revulsion, when next the toad looked up his summoner was no longer in sight, she was hidden fully behind Darui "Sakura-sweetie where did you go" came the call as if he didn't know and Sakura shuddered.
Oh how she wished her mother hadn't forbidden her from using chakra and beyond the minimum of taijutsu that was all she could do and she would never hurt Gamakiri "Are you playing hide and seek, come out, come out wherever you are" Gamakiri singsonged.
In that very creepy voice that Naruto was utterly terrified of just then to her relief the summoning wore off and Sakura slid down to the ground "Kami that was horrifying" Sakura wrapped her arms around her body and shivered.
"What's so scary anyway, he was just a toad and he couldn't do anything to you not without serious consequences right" Mu was seriously confused, he'd never seen anyone scared of a bloody freaking toad before.
Her head swiveled around to meet his gaze "Gamakiri regards all rules when it comes to me, he doesn't just stop at tying you up to where you can't make hand signs to escape, he taunts you and he's meaner than hell when he does it, doesn't spare anyone's feelings at all" she grimaced.
Everyone blinked at her in surprise "You'd think being his summoner would make you exempt from any kind of punishments like that" Roshi inquired wanting to hear what would be said next, the girl always said something interesting after all.
She pressed her lips together "Not when he helped raise me, he taught me how to practically walk, swim, run, play, taught me things that I keep close to this day, I love him but I also fear him" Sakura explained leaping up from the ground and peering around Darui.
That food had been indeed left behind her lips curled upwards in another grimace so Darui took pity on her and grabbed one of the storage scroll she kept on hand to seal all of the food away to return to Mount Myoboku at a later time.
Along with basket and picnic blanket, after that the lot of them split up to enjoy their day as the gloom from a few days before faded away to make way for clear skies and the warm sun, though it was a little cold from it still being winter.
The next day brought another interesting character to the Hidden Stone "Dad" Sakura blinked at the sight of the man standing just a few feet outside the gates "What are you doing here" she asked in confusion.
Before it hit her, someone must have told him "I'm worried yes, but I also came on behalf of the Leaf Village to ask for another treaty" Jiraiya walked forward not wanting to frighten her and signed in at the gates.
Until he was stood next to his adopted daughter "Relax Guard-san, I've got this, I'll escort my Dad to Tsuchikage-san" Sakura took her father by the arm peering up at him with all the adoration she could muster in that moment.
It had been awhile since she'd seen him, the end of the Chunin Exams in which she'd been promoted to be precise nearly two months ago "How are you feeling" he glanced down at her onyx eyes soft.
"Good Papa, I've been following Mom's orders and haven't used an ounce of chakra since she and Tobirama went back the other day" her fingers curled tighter around his arm, was he angry with her, it was a possibility.
They walked right by Kitsuchi, Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi, Kurotsuchi went to call out, but was stopped by her own father "Don't it's not right to interrupt, not when he came all this way on his own to see her" he saw the concern plastered all over the legendary sannin's face.
"Cherry do you feel any after effects from the poison, are you really doing alright" Jiraiya couldn't stand that he'd almost lost his daughter again for the third bloody time and where was he, off on a freaking mission, none the wiser of the danger she was constantly in.
To his relief Sakura shook her head "No after effects and I'm really alright promise cross my heart stick a finger in my eye" she recited the age old Cloud Academy saying leading him around the corner that led straight to the Tower.
Never sensing that she was being followed "Listen Cherry how would you like to go back to living on Mount Myoboku, quit being a ninja" they paused right outside the Tower and he turned to face his adopted daughter.
He couldn't do it anymore, have his child the one he adopted for himself be put in anymore danger "Dad that is the worst joke I've ever heard come from you, how could you ask that of me, when you know my task" Sakura took three steps back looking hurt.
"I know Cherry, I know but you're always in danger and getting hurt, I've nearly lost you three times already, what about the next time and I'm never here when you need me" Jiraiya wrapped his arms around the pinkette.
Pulling her into a bone crushing hug "You always come when I need you, like now" it was an emotionally charged moment between the duo, everything had began with just them after all, Naruto, Nagato, Yahiko, Konan, Tsunade and the others had just followed afterwards.
Jiraiya hugged her all the tighter "You know I'm supposed to be the grownup here" he leaned away after several minutes a grin cracking his face from ear to ear prompting a grin to spread across her lips as well.
"What can I say Dad I just grew up to fast, remember when you told me not to" she snickered a twinkle in her peridot eyes, he always made her feel better, even he wasn't there when it happened, when he came like this, everything always ended up being alright.
And it always made her more determined to complete her goals, the sannin threw his head back to laugh raucously squeezing his daughter once more "Always a riot aren't you Cherry" Jiraiya chuckled shaking his head in amusement "Now shall we go in" and so they did.
"Wow to think that he actually manages to be all concerned and stuff over her" Kurotsuchi whistled having witnessed the moment, her own father nodded quietly mulling over what they'd learned, in the span of fifteen minutes.
They didn't dare go in so they walked off to find something else to do for awhile "Guess even the Sannin can feel emotions after going through a war and loving loved ones, it would be hard" Akatsuchi was decidedly confused, but no answer was forthcoming.
In Ohnoki's office "Well Jiraiya of the Legendary Sannin what have you come here for" he had his suspicions after all, Leaf had been gunning for a treaty with Stone for a good long while, perhaps it was finally time to give in to the demand.
He straightened properly "I, Jiraiya, the Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku and one of the Legendary Sannin of the Leaf Village and Fire Country request that you Ohnoki, the Tsuchikage of the Hidden Stone and Earth Country consider a treaty between Leaf and Stone consideration" Jiraiya bowed low.
Becoming the diplomat he was known to be in serious instances such as this one "What do you think Ohnoki, it's not as if we haven't already given up trying to keep our distance from other villages" Mu's eyes flicked to Sakura.
Ay, Darui and Cee off somewhere else in the Stone Village, the current Tsuchikage growled lightly in response then swallowed his pride "I, Ohnoki, Tsuchikage of the Hidden Stone accept the request of a treaty" Ohnoki nodded relenting to the demand.
It was worth it to see Sakura's expressive emerald eyes lit up in happiness they supposed as they moved a step closer to realizing her dream "Awesome wait until Aunt Konan, Uncle Yahiko and Uncle Nagato hear" she clapped excitedly.
Causing the three males in the office to chuckle at her exuberance, Sakura laughed sheepishly and rubbed the back of her head letting a comfortable silence wash over them until she and her adoptive father left the Tsuchikage's office.
So that she could walk him back to the gates "Okay little Cherry I expect to see you home soon got it, you probably don't know but Hashirama got someone pregnant and he's taking responsibility by marrying her" the white haired male said.
Her jaw dropped in honest surprise "Didn't even know that he was even in a relationship with someone b..but that means I'm going to have two new family members, Cha" Sakura pumped her arm as her earlier excitement came back.
"That would make this new little guy either you're grandma or grandpa, funny how things work out sometimes huh" Jiraiya's lips quirked up as he signed out at the gates, before turning and giving his daughter one last hug.
As Sakura nodded to what he had said "Right, see you probably tomorrow Dad, I'm sure those little monsters have been missing me" she waved as her adoptive father headed off into the distance until he was out of eyesight.
He would probably never know how relieved she'd been to see him, she turned and rammed headlong into Han, the man didn't even freaking stumble "Who were you talking to" he stared down at her with those light brown eyes.
While simultaneously holding out his hand to help her up "My Dad, he came on behalf of the Leaf Village to request a treaty" Sakura dusted her clothes off, perhaps it was time to switch up her outfit when they got back to Cloud.
"It's a bit odd he didn't stay long don't you think, never mind about that, Isobu got in contact with Kokuo, she wants to speak with you" Han grabbed her wrist and dragged her off to be somewhere secluded, his and Roshi's apartment to be exact.
Roshi looked surprised to see her "Aren't you supposed to be resting brat not letting yourself be carted off by anyone that so chooses to cart you off" the red head snorted resting his onyx eyes on the girl, who looked a lot better than when they'd stumbled over her a couple days ago.
"Come to think of it why did you bring her here Han, unless Five Tails has demanded to speak to her again, while Four Tails has been quiet" Roshi lifted a scorching red brow peering perceptively at the pink haired girl.
Who smiled sheepishly while Han nodded "For you're question Han-san, my Dad's a pretty busy guy, always scouting out potential threats and reporting back to Min…Hokage-san in Leaf" she sat down awkwardly across from the tall, unmovable man and activated her sharingan.
Both males noticed the slip up but neither had a chance to ask as Han and herself were sucked into Kokuo's mindscape, the same cobbled stone path with bamboo forests on either side as before, this time the dolphin/horse came forward with no hesitation.
"Isobu wishes to meet with you young Sakura Otsutsuki, he has heard of you're perils and efforts to get to this current point and wants to hear what you come up with to ensure his protection, go here" Kokuo leaned her head down.
Sharing her chakra with the pinkette as their foreheads touched just lightly, Sakura jolted in surprise as an image formed in her mind, of a large deep lake in Water Country "Let your instincts guide you" the dolphin/horse assured before evicting the duo from her mindscape.
The conversation had been short and to the point and Sakura's head spun from being so suddenly evicted and also the image and chakra that had been shared with her, she was quiet for several minutes before making a decision, she'd go there, to protect Isobu.
Han and Roshi let her go with a silent wave and Sakura wandered the Stone Village for an hour until finally ending up at a noodle booth getting lunch for herself before finding a quiet place to sit and read while eating, one of her books that she'd bought here in this village to be precise.
Kurotsuchi, Akatsuchi and Kitsuchi stumbled across her three chapters in "Figures you'd be reading those books, I mean the guy is you're father after all" Kurotsuchi snorted and flopped down gracefully at the pinkette's side.
"Indeed he is, did you really meet the chakra representation of him Sakura-san, what was he like" Akatsuchi was curious as he took up the spot on the girls other side and they all reclined against the rock enjoying the nice day.
Kitsuchi also had a question "Don't you hate him for shoving you here, did he think you were damaged somehow or something" the inquiry wasn't insulting just curious and Sakura couldn't fault them for that.
She looked up at the questions "He was nice and I bare him no ill will for sending me here a thousand years in the future, and no Gamamaru-sama saw a vision of what was to come and with my other gift of foresight it was decided I was to come here" Sakura murmured softly.
For a few minutes the Stone Shinobi were quiet and Sakura returned her attention on reading her book again "But how could you not hate the guy Kid, did he even regret sending you here in the future where it was more dangerous" the ravenette burst out angrily.
Upset on her friends behalf "My Father did regret his actions according to Gamamaru-sama he grieved for me all the way up to his deathbed, where his eldest children were fighting amongst themselves for choosing Ashura-ni as his successor, that was the catalyst to this future" she said.
"You have brothers to that you never got to meet how awful Sakura-san" the black haired teenager shook his head sadly, things truly were getting crazy it seemed and this girl was stuck smack dab in the middle of everything, what a truly sticky situation.
At his statement she grinned though "Actually Akatsuchi-san I have met the spirits of my half brothers, just the spirits mind you Kurotsuchi-chan, and they were totally awesome" Sakura announced closing her book as she realized she wouldn't get anymore reading.
The Third Tsuchikage's son frowned in response "But how is such a thing possible unless you know where their graves are" Kitsuchi lifted a brow wanting to hear what kind of answer the girl would give to his question.
Sakura turned to face him "Remember how I said their souls were merged with souls of two people I know…" a pause and Kitsuchi nodded "Well I know the two boys that Indra-ni and Ashura-ni's souls are attached to, there's a ritual that lets me speak to them" she stated.
"And just what does this ritual involve I can't imagine it being easy considering you're speaking to the spirit that is merged with another soul" Kurotsuchi prompted straightening up a little and staring imploringly at the girl.
Who swallowed "Blood ritual, my blood and the blood of the two who has extra souls merged with their own, a seal draw in the mixed blood, and flooded with our chakra, before we have to merge our chakra in one cohesive unit while meditating, takes forever" Sakura grimaced.
"How many times after you performed that ritual, I would imagine that one would have to replenish their blood, and you didn't force the two who were needed into doing the ritual have you" Akatsuchi was wary.
He didn't have to worry as Sakura shook her head "Just the once and please those two were the ones who had to convince me to do it, a book was left to me and I don't know how many times those two read it in order to memorize the ritual" she snorted lightly with a smile on her lips.
"Why would they have to convince you, weren't the spirits attached to them you're brothers not theirs" the only adult in their group was confused, why the hell would one hesitate in meeting their family if given a chance.
The pinkette crinkled her nose up "I wasn't sure if they would hate me or not, see Indra-ni and Ashura-ni hated each other for the longest of time and by befriending the two boys their souls resided in, it forced them together and it was possible that one of them would hate me for that" Sakura admitted quietly.
Giving the Stone Shinobi more to think about as they finally left her with little waves and hurried off to find something to do, so she simply opened her book and returned to reading, and finally stopped when she'd gotten through two more chapters.
Cleaned up her belongings, threw away her trash and headed for the hotel, Sakura was halfway there when a woman slammed into her "Please Help Me, My Baby, My Baby, He's Trapped in a burning building" the adult screamed sobbing, not realizing that who she was clinging to.
Wasn't even a shinobi of that village, but the words baby and burning building were enough "Where Ma'am and I'll help get you're baby to safety" she drew herself to her full height which wasn't much a serious look in her emerald eyes.
The woman leaped onto her feet grabbing the girls wrist blinded by tears and dragged her clear across the village to an already flamed building "He's in there, c..can you really get him" she was clearly distraught seeing how bad the fire had gotten in the time it had taken her to get help.
She swallowed thickly inwardly apologizing to her mom about using chakra when she wasn't supposed to "Suiton: Water Armor" another jutsu that she'd read about and soon she was covered head to toe in water.
There was no time to alert anyone else of the danger and so Sakura charged head first into the burning building swerving around burning timber as it fell in her path and leaping over patches of low flames until she'd searched nearly every inch of that bloody building.
Sakura found the boy in the closet, he was only four, he didn't ask if she was there to help merely lunged into her arms "Everything's going to be okay now" Sakura shushed him "I need you to be a good boy K and hold tightly onto me" she ordered gently.
Getting a nod and after feeling his arms tighten around her neck Sakura took off at a run straight through the glass window, it shattered and rained down on them and they were plummeting towards the earth at a rapid rate.
All the while she dropped the water armor "Doton: Lightened Boulder Jutsu" she weaved hand signs hastily and just a two mere inches from impacting with the cold harsh ground, they were floating and Sakura landed lightly on her feet.
Only to slid to the ground onto her bottom quickly undoing the earth jutsu she'd used so they didn't float away "Mama alright" the little boy looked up at her with bright green eyes that were filled with tears.
"Mhm see over there" Sakura pointed at the dumbstruck woman, perhaps she shouldn't have jumped, but there was no way they would have ever gotten back out the same way she'd come in, it would have been to dangerous otherwise.
The boys bright green eyes lit up as the tears came faster "Thank you Nee-chan, thank you" he hugged her all the tighter as his home burned behind them, he was alive thanks to this girl and she had been very nice to him.
It was only the beginning as Ohnoki, Mu, Ay, Darui and Cee blew into sight with the others not far in following along "Brat want to tell me what the hell is going on here" Ay glowered down at the girl, who was holding a small child in her lap.
"Do..Don't blame Nee-chan" the little boy puffed up in response "She saved me" he smiled innocently completely attached to the pretty pink haired teenager who'd come to rescue him from a burning building.
Coincidentally his mother chose that moment to walk over "I couldn't find anyone else Sir, I take full responsibility for what has happened, there was a gas leak and it exploded, I didn't know what else to do and she offered to get my baby out" she was clearly uncomfortable.
"You weren't supposed to be using chakra" Cee scolded harshly, to his surprise Sakura did look a little guilty he should have known that she wouldn't like breaking rules placed on her, but in a matter of life or death especially for a child, she'd do it.
"I know and I am sorry, bu..but I couldn't leave him to die and there was no time to get anyone else" Sakura rose to her feet setting the boy down, she didn't look so much as injured but the child did and so Cee took the initiative on healing him.
While his mother stood back watching relief visible in her dark green orbs "Why are you so set on protecting the children of this world" Darui had to ask, he'd been wondering for a long time but hadn't been able to come up with a viable explanation.
Everyone turned to hear the answer as well "Because the children that come after us will be the new future of the world, they must be protected at all costs, Asuma-san of Leaf has a theory in shogi that the king on the board is the one to make sure that the new generation is even better than the one that came before it" she rattled off.
"And so you took that and apply it to yourself as well, figures" the only blonde in their group sighed, there she went again talking like "You know if I didn't believe that little bit about you being Hagoromo's daughter before I do now, the way you talk is old fashioned" Cee stated.
Ohnoki was impressed "Spoken like a Kage actually, it is our responsibility to ensure that all children have a chance to make their marks on the world like their predecessors and provide them with protection and safety in their village" he nodded.
The pinkette grinned "Good thing I'm not gunning for that position, probably never, all that paperwork" Sakura teased at Ay "Though I do know someone who wants to be a Kage" she mused fondly thinking of that knucklehead baka in Leaf.
"Let me guess that little blonde brat from the Leaf Village right Naruto Uzumaki, the fourth Hokage's son" the Raikage caught on and Sakura nodded seriously "Don't you think he's a bit well goofy" she nodded again.
"Yep, but if anyone can do it Naruto can and I have complete faith in him, he's been gagging for the Hokage position since we were three/four" Sakura quipped in a sure fire tone as if there was no doubts in her mind the boy would do it.
Darui snorted and glanced to the still burning building "One question, how did you get through the fire, I'm sure it was pretty bad when you got here, now it's even worse, let alone get out" he questioned with narrowed onyx eyes.
Sakura rubbed the back of her head "Er a water jutsu that wraps water around ones body from head to toe like armor and we jumped out the window, I used that jutsu Lord Second Tsuchikage Sir taught me before we impacted with the earth" she announced.
The lot of them shook their heads and scattered "Bye, bye Pretty Onee-chan" the little boy with bright green eyes and red hair waved as he was drug off by his mother and Sakura was dragged back to the hotel to rest, she was a little tired after that if she was being honest.
And spent a couple hours before dinner napping then ate with Ay, Darui and Cee, things were quiet, not tense but comfortable and after taking a shower Sakura crashed in the bed she'd occupied for practically a month, chakra powered lava lamp in her arms to get some shut eye.
It was only the next morning that Ay barged into her and Darui's shared hotel room "Get up, we're leaving in an hour after breakfast" the Raikage barked at the duo, Cee already awake in the other room, and left just as quickly as he'd come.
The duo were on their feet in five minutes and they separated to get dressed in their clothes, before scrambling for their belongings "Looks like Raikage-sama is eager to get home huh Darui-san" Sakura grinned stowing away her lamp, it wouldn't be needed again for awhile probably.
"No kidding Kid, I'm sure you are to and to take a nice long break, probably for a couple of weeks right" Darui smirked zipping up his mission back and slinging it across his shoulders along with his sword before turning to face his apprentice.
Sakura nodded quietly "Definitely shall we commence to the cafeteria" there was a twinkle of excitement in her emerald orbs, as she thought on all she was going to do when she got back, even if she didn't get a break.
"You're just eager to see Omoi aren't you" Cee teased mercilessly once the duo were sat down on the other side of the bench across from him and Ay, instantly Sakura's face turned redder than a tomato and she huffed at him.
Though didn't deny his statement "Will you be able to perform that technique to get us back" Ay questioned not wanting to push the girl past her limits if she was still feeling fatigued from that nasty poison she'd been injected with.
At his question she smiled lightly "Mhm if I gather some nature energy for sage chakra it will be easier and will help a lot" Sakura explained munching on her biscuit, sipping on her tea, man she missed coffee but this hotel didn't serve coffee.
It didn't take the four of them to finish eating, pay for their hotel rent, drop off their keys and finally leave the hotel on a straight path for the exit of the village, lo and behold, who would come to see them off but Ohnoki, Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi, the others noticeably absent.
"We of the Hidden Stone thank you for hard work and we wish you a safe trip to Hidden Cloud" Ohnoki bowed his head, it was all his pride would allow for, but it was enough for Ay who nodded and turned on his heel, Darui and Cee just a few feet behind him.
Leaving Sakura for a moment "Here Kurotsuchi-chan, Akatsuchi-san" she tossed a brown amethyst and a red sapphire at the two teenagers "For new friendships and better relations" she grinned then hurried after the others.
"Damn I'm gonna miss that girl, and her amusing reactions to everything" Kurotsuchi sighed slipping the sapphire into her pouch, she wouldn't admit it though, but she was happy to receive such a gift.
Off to the side Akatsuchi nodded doing the same with the gem he'd been given, he knew better than to throw it away "Though I do wonder if Sakura-san is rested enough to perform what will be asked of her" he mused as they walked away from the gates.
Meanwhile, after walking seven miles away from the Stone Village, Ay turned to Sakura, who understand without him asking what he wanted, merely sat down in a familiar style and closed her eyes, feeling the nature energy and drawing it in with ease.
Until a ring of orange surrounded her eyes and her eyes changed colors to, before rising, Darui placed his hand on her shoulder as Cee and Ay put their hands on his and with nothing more than a sigh of the wind, they were all the way back in Lightning Country.
Stood just a few feet outside the gates of the Hidden Cloud Village, there was a noticeable change that they could see and Sakura's expression turned into a sour look "What the hell, why are there three houses up there now" her lip curled into a grimace.
Indeed there was now three houses on the cliff that her house was built into "Perhaps those two wood guys came by and made a guest house" Darui avoided glancing up for fear of bursting into laughter, those things were so hideous it was hilarious.
Cee pressed his lips together "Or they felt you needed more space considering all that happened" he snorted while Ay rolled his eyes and they signed in before walking quietly down the streets of the Cloud Village to the Raikage Tower.
"Raikage-sama you've returned, Cee, Darui and Sakura to, how was the mission, did negotiations go well with Hidden Stone, did you draw up a treaty" Mabui was there, looking quite frazzled as she tried to complete that days paperwork.
Ay chuckled lightly "Everything went well, a treaty festival will be held here in a months time between Cloud/Stone, now for you, congratulations on completing your first A Ranked Mission, you have two weeks off, and that means no hospital work either" Ay glanced to Cee.
Who nodded "Got it Raikage-sama, if you excuse me" Sakura bowed out not wanting to argue, these next two weeks would give her time to come up with a solid plan to ensure Isobu's protection, it was just the three tails now.
They watched her go until the door shut behind her and the pinkette hurried the few blocks to her house/houses, her eyes narrowed what the bloody hell was going on, and stood on the rubber mat at the base of the stairs and went through the set of hand signs needed.
Before she vanished in a plume of smoke only to reappear inside the house "Nee-chan you're home" Hidzuke promptly attached himself to her, it was a Saturday after all, "I've got lots and lots of friends at the academy, and you know what Uncle Nagato came to live with us" he chattered.
"Explains one of those monstrosities, but what about the other one" she looked around warily spying the extra doors on either side of her house, Karui popped up from the couch and peered over the back of it.
Waking up from her nap, it was an off day for her and Omoi to "Decided that we needed a guest house, so those two Hashirama and Yamato came by and built that and one for you're uncle, aunt and little cousins" the red head yawned.
Omoi was still knocked out snoring the morning away "Are they here now or back in Leaf" Sakura asked walking forward after taking off her shoes and thick outer yukata, it reminded her she needed to get a new outfit, being a Chunin was different.
Hidzuke stayed firmly glued to her hip as they walked towards the couches to stare down at the white haired boy "Back in Leaf, Irakusa-san still has some things to move to start up her stall here in Cloud, while Nagato-san is going to jump between the villages for awhile" Karui said.
Just as a mischievous gleam appeared in Sakura's jade eyes and a grin formed on the red heads lips as she realized what her friend was going to do, especially when the pinkette raised a finger and pointed it at Omoi.
"Suiton: Water Shot Gun Jutsu" a blob of water formed at the tip of her finger and it shot off like a rocket, slamming into the white haired boys forehead, he flew up out of his sleep with a yelp fighting off invisible attackers.
Until he realized the attackers or attacker was his girlfriend and started pouting "Is that anyway to greet you're boyfriend Sakura-chan, right as you get home by hitting him with a jutsu, that stung, what if it cracked my skull and now I have…." a hand clamped over Omoi's mouth.
And Sakura leaned down to press a kiss to his cheek "Calm down Omoi-kun, that didn't even hurt, it was just the shock of cold water that got you to wake up I hardly used chakra in the jutsu" she giggled lightly pulling away in the next moment.
Omoi sulked lightly "Mean, anyway you're home to stay for a good long while right, no more going off to villages for nearly a month" he looked up with hopeful onyx eyes as he scooted over letting her sit down at his side.
His arm came up and wrapped around her waist pulling her even closer to the point one wouldn't be able to fit a piece of paper between them "I'm on break for the next two weeks, we'll be going back to the regular routine for a good long while" Sakura nodded.
Leaning her head on his shoulder as her little brother climbed into her lap and Karui came to sandwich her between Omoi and herself "Good cause this month was hell without you here, Samui and Atsui was always with us babysitting us" Karui sulked.
"If you think that's bad Karui-chan, try being poisoned, the enemy of the world tried to kill me while we were in the Stone Village, that's why it took three extra days than originally planned" she grimaced.
Their jaws dropped in horror reminding Sakura that she needed to tell them the truth "The Masked Man was there, but why, how could they let that happen" Omoi was beyond horrified that he'd nearly lost his girlfriend again.
"She said an enemy of the world, it could be anyone right Sakura-chan, please tell me he's not still skulking around just waiting to attack" the red head chewed on her already short finger nails, while Hidzuke peered up at her.
His sister was quiet "I can go to my room Nee-chan if you think I'm not old enough to hear this explanation" Hidzuke's onyx eyes were full of understanding, he finally got it that being a shinobi of the Cloud Village wasn't easy and he'd only just started being an academy student.
"Probably for the best Hidzuke-kun" he jumped up from her lap and vanished, Sakura waited until she heard his door shut "His name is Black Zetsu, he's the mastermind behind everything, the masked man's actions, you know my obsession with those books on the Sage of Six Paths" she asked.
They nodded quietly not talking just listening "In those book it speaks of a woman named Kaguya Otsutsuki and the ten tailed beasts, both of which were sealed on the moon that was created by Hagoromo Otsutsuki, before Kaguya was sealed away she created Black Zetsu" Sakura continued.
Sakura took a deep breath "So that he could someday release her, but in order for that to happen the nine tailed beasts all of which but one are sealed in human sacrifices, Jinchuuriki, are needed to revive the ten tails as he's merely a husk right now" she rattled off.
By Karui and Omoi's expressions they were slowly catching on "Right and if the beasts were removed from their Jinchuuriki that would result in their deaths, that's not all you remember those purple ringed eyes of my Uncle Nagato" Sakura pressed on.
Earning more nods "The Rinnegan to be exact is what's needed to unseal Kaguya from the moon, one has to be just like the Sage of Six Paths, with both Uchiha and Senju cells merged together, hence why the Masked Man is after Uncle Nagato" now came the hard part.
"But there's so much more to this story, a thousand years ago, Hagoromo Otsutsuki took a second lover and had a third child, this woman had prophetic dreams, but died after giving birth, this third child was sent forward in time in order to protect the world" she bit her lip.
Hoping, just maybe they would get what she was hinting at them "Prophetic dreams, did that old guy Gamamaru fill you're head with stories or something" Karui snorted clearly not catching onto the subtle hint.
The white haired boy however had narrowed his onyx eyes in suspicion "Just like you Sakura-chan, are you saying that the third unknown child of the Sage of Six Paths is actually you" Omoi peered at her with intense eyes.
Karui on her other side froze as it hit her "Yes, Gamamaru-sama confirmed it, I am more than just Sakura Haruno, I am Sakura Otsutsuki, the Sage of Six Paths, Hagoromo Otsutsuki's biological daughter and half sister of Indra and Ashura Otsutsuki" Sakura admitted quietly.
"Why are you telling us this now, and not months ago" the red head was furious, more to the fact that they were only being told months upon months after their friend had been told "I thought we were best friends, does Sasuke and Naruto know" she asked angrily.
Omoi was quiet for a moment "But do you believe her though Karui-chan, that Sakura-chan isn't from this time, though now I know what you meant when you said that you felt as if you didn't belong here" the white haired boy said.
Calming Karui down so that Sakura could speak "Black Zetsu knows who I am, I was scared that you guys wouldn't believe me, not only that but for that kind of secret to be leaked would have been disastrous, I'm going to be in a lot more danger from now on" she explained.
"Then we'll be right here at you're side Sakura-chan, cause we're best friends forever and as teammates we always have to have each others backs" Karui decided believing the pinkette, Sakura would never lie to them after all.
Keep secrets sure, but not lie "Karui is right Sakura-chan, no matter what happens, we'll stick with you through thick and thin, now I'm sure Hidzuke-san is chomping at the bit to visit you" Omoi ushered her up and Sakura vanished down the hall to give her brother some attention.
Leaving him and the red head alone as they sat back on the couch mulling over the information they'd learned about their friend/teammate/girlfriend in his case before deciding that there was little they could do and relaxed.
It wasn't more than forty-seven minutes later that Sakura and Hidzuke trailed from the hall that led to the rooms the little boy laughing as his sister tickled him, he squirmed but wasn't really trying to get away "We're going to go see the others for a bit" she explained.
Once she'd relented on tickling her brother, Omoi and Karui waved from the couch, signaling for her to go ahead and in a matter of minutes the pinkette and pale blonde haired boy were stood in the house all the way in the Leaf Village.
For a moment she was surprised none of the other children had launched themselves at her, just as the thought came, something attached itself to her back "Got you Nee-chan, now you can't disappear for a month" Momo scowled impressively much like their mother.
"Yeah cousin, being a ninja isn't fun and games like you make it out to be sometimes" Joki was suddenly right there attached to her right hip and Ketsuro on her left, while Shikke and Shimetta were in their playpen.
A slender pink brow raised "I'm sure you'll understand eventually right now keep being innocent okay" Sakura hugged the four children close a tender light in her jade orbs, she didn't want them to lose that, not like it had been stripped away from her so cruelly the night the dreams started.
"Ne, Ne Sakura-chan can we all come spend the night with you, it's Saturday and all our homework was done yesterday" Ketsuro pleaded with her soft brown orbs she'd inherited from her father.
Keeping glued to her hip as Sakura walked forward and deposited Hidzuke and Momo on the couch "Hmm Hidzuke already lives with me, but that's a question for you're and our parents Momo-chan, Ketsuro-chan" she hummed.
Reaching for the Uzumaki twins as they finally caught sight of her "Hold Sakra-chan, Hold" the duo demanded like usual, Shikke and Shimetta didn't have to wait long because soon they were cuddled in their oldest cousins arms.
Their arms tightened around her neck "Don't weave us for so wong gain" they mumbled in unrehearsed sync, sniffling and crying big thick tears, before during the Chunin exams, they'd gotten to see her, but this time she'd been gone for over a month.
It was already February after all, Momo was a whopping nine years old already, "There, there Shikke-kun, Shimetta-chan, I'm back for a good long while" Sakura soothed rubbing their backs gently and nodding subtly to Nagato as he poked his head through the hallway.
That led to Yahiko and Konan's house "They've been a bit difficult since you've been off on a mission, also we were told by Jiraiya-sensei that Hidden Stone has finally accepted to make a treaty, only after we partially move to Cloud" Nagato shook his head quietly in amusement.
"Figured these two would be upset, their young, don't understand very well yet, not like those four" the pinkette gestured subtly to Momo, Joki, Hidzuke and Ketsuro "Not to mention the move would be a little tough on them as well" she shrugged lightly.
Patting Shikke and Shimetta's backs and letting her chakra wash over them and seep into their systems to calm them until their cries subsided "Missed you lots Sakra-chan" Shikke spoke for once without his twin piping up at the same time.
"Yeah, Yeah so come play with us everyday" Shimetta demanded, and they got pulled into a stronger hug, they loved it especially when Sakura started spinning them until they got to tired and demanded to be put down in their play pen.
Nagato chuckled lightly as his twins curled up together and took a mid-morning nap "Did Jiraiya-sensei tell you about Hashirama, the woman he's dating has electric green hair and pink eyes, her name is Nama, they eloped yesterday, didn't tell anyone" the red head asked.
"Dad told me alright and I'm really going to strangle him, those houses are just monstrosities" Sakura scowled "Like seriously couldn't they have just used some earth jutsu to build the house into the stone, instead of having it stick out blatantly like that" she huffed.
He didn't know what to tell her there "Actually Sakura-chan, there's a door through the dining room that leads to a private training room, that's built all the way into the stone" Hashirama piped in as he entered the house.
With as Nagato had warned her an electric green haired woman with pink eyes "Pardon the intrusion I am Nama, now I'm Nama Senju, as of yesterday, this little one will either be you're grandmother or grandfather" she rubbed her stomach.
Sakura looked the woman up and down with a grin "You're pretty Nama-san, I hope you'll be able to reign in Great Grandfather, cause he can be a handful" she teased mercilessly, getting back at the man for building those monstrosities a little bit.
Hashirama's cheeks colored in embarrassment "I assume your doing well obviously you have to be to crack a joke like that" Tobirama snorted a smirk on his lips and his older brother chuckled awkwardly, before grabbing Nama by the hand and dragging her off to his house.
"I'm great Great Uncle Tobirama, now when will it be you're turn to find a Lady and add a couple of members to our family" Sakura was in quite the teasing mood now and the white haired male looked decidedly uncomfortable.
To the point he shifted for a few minutes drawing her to make a couple of suspicions "Unless…Unless you've already found someone like Hashirama" she accused offhandedly eyeing his expressions closely.
It wasn't but a minute before his red eyes trailed off to the door and Tobirama coughed "Are you serious, why didn't you tell us Tobirama, no one would think any less of you" Nagato was shocked, like what the hell, why was everyone suddenly getting together with someone.
Unable to hide it any longer "We didn't want to intrude upon you're family anymore than we already have" the white haired male admitted, the Uzumaki and Sakura shared an exasperated look with each other.
Before the pinkette turned on him "You are family get that through you're thick head, personally I would love to have more little kids running around asking me to teach them things and whatnot, I love children especially if their family" she chattered.
Shocking the man "Her name is Kyusai, I've been with her since a month before the Chunin Exams, while Hashirama had been with Nama for months before that, she has purple hair and gray eyes" Tobirama gave a description to the woman he'd been courting for awhile.
"If you think that's shocking wait til you hear how Minato's also with a woman, though only for a week now, no surprise that it's a woman with orange hair of all things, he has a hair color fetish" Jiraiya chose that moment to appear in the house via door.
His daughter whipped around emerald eyes wide "Seriously, like seriously that is totally great and here I thought I would have to tease him some more" Sakura grinned widely feeling downright excitable as she realized that more children would be on the way.
Jiraiya shook his head in amusement looking his daughter over with veiled concern in his onyx eyes "Papa, Papa, can we go spend the night with Sakura-nee, Karui-nee and Omoi-ni" Momo interrupted before he could ask how she was feeling.
"Only fair cause Shikke and Shimetta are gonna sleep in their new house to please Uncle Jiraiya, please" Ketsuro subsequently forgot that it wasn't Jiraiya that she was supposed to ask if she could spend the night with her cousin.
Thankfully Yahiko and Konan chose that moment to come to the rescue as Irakusa and Tsunade entered the house, Naruto suspiciously absent for the time being "Good you're home, now you can help those two with finishing up packing" Tsunade stated.
As Joki and Ketsuro turned their attention on their parents "Can we go spend the night with Sakura-chan please Mom, Dad" Joki pleaded with the adults, knowing that they would say yes eventually but were trying to act like they weren't going to.
While Sakura, Nagato and Irakusa vanished to another part of the house "We're glad you're doing alright Sakura-chan, we were worried when Tsunade-san and Tobirama-san told us that you'd been poisoned" the soft red haired woman looked her adopted niece over.
Before pulling her into a hug as they set to work on sealing the rest of hers, Nagato's and their children's belongings in storage scrolls, while Yahiko and Konan finally relented to the demands of their own children.
"Okay, Okay you can go spend the night with Sakura-chan, so long as you two behave yourselves and don't cause her any trouble" Konan sighed softly hugging her little brats, it was like Sakura was the only one they would behave for actually sometimes.
Yahiko snorted "That means no asking her to teach you things and eating whatever she and her friends cook for lunch and dinner, now go pack and only for tonight" the orange haired man warned as the duo scrambled for their house to pack some things.
Twenty minutes later all the children and Sakura were gathered again, Shikke and Shimetta perched in Irakusa and Nagato's arms still napping the morning away, the lot of them ready to return to Cloud.
Hidzuke did the honors of summoning them all and they spent the rest of the day relaxing and lounging around the house or putting away things to make sure that Nagato, Irakusa, Shikke and Shimetta would have their rooms ready.
Until they all passed out in their rooms, though Momo, Joki, Ketsuro and surprisingly Hidzuke climbed into Sakura's queen sized bed and crashed on some part of her, they'd missed her something fierce after all and with Hoyo cuddled in her arms Sakura eventually went to sleep herself.
