when eighteen-year-old, post-war Sakura is thrown back into her tiny, pre-Academy body, she makes a decision. she'd had a childhood once already, and this time, she's more interested in Not Dying when the inevitable shit hits the proverbial fan. so she will work harder, care less, kill more, and smile when she's done. (Time Traveller!Sakura, ROOT!Sakura, Mokuton!Sakura)

Sakura is back in Konoha after a flurry of dangerous missions, safe and sound. Or so she thinks. Life in a ninja village is never simple, and she's going to find out what it really means to be Tsunade's protege. In the mean time, Konoha's enemies are hardly idle... Sequel to Trial by Ninja.

Story follows Sakura on a path that could've been taken if some things had been different. Mainly, if the talents she'd had in canon were noticed and honed sooner, Team 7 was not the team she was placed in, and Inner Sakura's violence and temper were shared by outer Sakura too. (semi-au; Sakura is a prodigy, OCs, canon-divergence, chap 32 contains mentions of homosexuality)

Sakura would show them she wasn't pathetic. One harsh word from Sasuke makes Sakura realize that he will never see her unless she is strong enough to stand at his side and not in his shadow.

To become great, one must overcome great opponents. A moment of inspiration during the chuunin exam puts Sakura on the path to greatness, whether she likes it or not.

All she's ever wanted is to confirm her existence. All he's ever wanted is to immortalize his existence. And somewhere along the way, they realize the only part that really matters is simply existing together.

Haruno Sakura has fallen victim to the desires of a man born of loneliness and cruelty.