He was alive one moment. The next, he was not.

It always stunned Sakura how quickly life can be taken away. The battle may drag on for hours on end, but the kill only takes a second. Of course, as a shinobi, she should have been no stranger to murder. The kind that was cold and impersonal, calculated to the last second when the victim's eyes lost their life.

But as a healer, she only knew too well of the hours it took to save a life. There have been countless times where she has stayed with a patient for days just to make sure they were breathing and would not be captured in the swift talons of death.

The cold, harsh truth of Life is that Time would always be on the side of Death. Once Life is lost, it is lost forever.


The last sound Gato ever made was the sound of his body hitting the icy water, his lifeless form drowning beneath the waves. The genin stared at the scene in shock, unsure of what had just unfolded. But it was clear by the way Zabuza's sword was bathed in crimson that the man's tyrannical reign over the Land of Waves was over.

Kakashi was the first one to recover, his shoulders tensing once more as he observed the unstable shinobi with caution. Zabuza lowered his sword so that it rested on the bridge, his back towards Team Seven as he stared down the rest of Gato's henchmen. Even though she had no doubt that his stare was intimidating, Sakura could tell from the way his shoulders heaved and his body leaned on his blade that he barely had enough chakra left to go on. Fortunately for him, the poor men seemed to buy into his silent threat, most of them backing up slowly while others devolving into a full sprint towards the town.

It was only when they all scattered that the Demon of the Mist collapsed into a heap on the bridge, his shoulders shaking from exhaustion. With caution, their sensei started moving towards the man like he was a wounded animal, a kunai clasped in front of him as he stepped closer to the bridge.

"No, Sensei! Don't-"

Sakura clamped a hand over Naruto's mouth, effectively silencing him. She lifted a finger to her lips, releasing him when she was sure that he wouldn't shout. "Don't worry, Naruto," she whispered to her teammate. "Kakashi-sensei knows what he's doing."

"But we should still follow him in case," Sasuke added in a whisper, not waiting for an answer before walking towards their sensei. By now, Kakashi was on the bridge, standing a couple of feet away from an exhausted Zabuza. Sakura sighed before following after him, leaping up onto the bridge to stand next to her teammate and Kakashi.

Zabuza crouched low to the ground, his grip on his sword tightening with every breath. His broad shoulders shuddered ever so slightly, blood dripping from his hidden face. Chakra exhaustion, the kunoichi deduced, a flicker of pity shining in her eyes. His battle with Kakashi probably took a lot out of him.

It was not only exhaustion, though, that brought the shinobi to the ground. When Sakura looked closely, she could glimpse the shimmer of clear drops falling from Zabuza's eyes. He breathed as if it was burdensome, choked sobs coming from his throat in short-lived bursts. Just looking at the broken man caused Sakura's eyes to swell and burn. As the moments passed, his sobs become louder, erupting from his chest violently. The kunoichi's gut clenched in pity, knowing full well that she could not help the man.

Even though he is my enemy, he lost the one person who supported him. No one deserves that kind of pain.

"He...he's gone," the shinobi whispered under his breath, his voice carried away by the slight breeze. "He..." His voice cut off, his mind lost in his own pain.

Sakura shifted her gaze onto her sensei, unsure how to proceed with the situation. He too, however, seemed at just as much of a loss for what to do, settling for carefully observing the unpredictable shinobi.

After a couple of moments of heavy silence, the man slowly stood up, at which Sasuke and Sakura quickly dropped into defensive positions. However, instead of attacking them, Zabuza shuffled past them, briefly stopping beside Team Seven. His normally tanned skin had become paler, light stains of tears on his cheek as if proof of his pain. A dull, glassy look occupied his deep-set orbs, stripped of all the malice and hatred they had held. His gaze settled on Kakashi and an unspoken understanding passed between them in the still silence.

After a couple of beats, he moved on to the woods behind them.

Sakura once again watched her sensei, curious as to why he let the hostile shinobi go. Sensing her question, Kakashi met her gaze, before tilting his head towards Zabuza. The man's shoulders were hung low, his steps slow as if he couldn't carry his own weight.

"A man in grief," he spoke, "only does harm to himself. The only thing we can do is leave him be."

The genin and jonin watched as the shinobi sheathed his blade on his back, disappearing into the depths of the forest.


A quiet sigh escaped Sakura's lips, lost to into the silence around her. She gazed out of the tiny window in the room, curling up tighter in her sleeping bag. Stars sprinkled the sky as if they were gems twinkling in a dark cave, gazing at Earth from a bottomless pit.

After Zabuza had left, the Konoha-nin decided to take shelter from the night at Tazuna's house, where they were warmly welcomed. Naruto, especially, seemed to be held in high regard by Tsunami and Inari, with Tsunami constantly thanking him and Inari refusing to leave him alone. Although at first he looked a little sheepish, Sakura picked up that Naruto secretly enjoyed the praise and attention. His infectious smile never left his face throughout the entire evening, growing bigger and bigger by all the gratefulness and warmth he was showered in.

When they all finally decided to retire, it was to everyone's surprise that Inari asked to sleep in the same room as Naruto, protesting vehemently when his mother told him to sleep in his own room.

"But I want to be with Naruto-niisan!" The child had insisted, pouting at his mother.

When his mother finally relented and asked Naruto if he would be okay with sharing a room, her blond teammate gave a beaming smile, eagerly accepting her suggestion. And so they all slept together in one room, with Sasuke against the wall closest to the door, Sakura next to him, Naruto on the other side of her, and Inari closest to the window across from the doorway.

Naruto had fallen asleep long ago, followed closely by an exhausted Inari. Unfortunately for Sakura, the day's events kept playing through her mind like a movie she had seen a hundred times. No matter how hard she tried, her eyes kept flickering open, refusing to fall back into the embrace of sleep. The tatami floor was uncomfortably stubborn against her back, her sleeping bag providing almost no cushion.

Shifting her body, she turned away from the window towards the wall, only to find ebony eyes staring at her. Her eyes widened, a little surprised he wasn't asleep.

"You're awake?" They both whispered at the same time. Sakura's lip curled into a small smile, while the Uchiha's lips pulled slightly upward. His face was covered by the shadows of the room, the slight twinkle of moonlight present in his midnight eyes, mirroring the sky almost exactly. His eyes flickered playfully at her as if sharing a special secret before dropping into their usual expression.

Her hand came up to tuck a rose strand behind her ears, her forest orbs trained solely on the boy in front of her. "Why are you awake?" She whispered curiously, careful not to wake up Naruto or Inari.

He simply looked at her for a moment or two, before turning to lay down on his back. "Just...thinking," he said softly, staring up at the ceiling. As usual, his voice was nonchalant, devoid of any emotion or warmth. Sighing, Sakura mimicked his movements, shifting onto her back and staring up at the ceiling as well.

"Me too."

The only sound in the room was the sound of Naruto's light snores and Sasuke's quiet breathing, with Inari being too far away for her to hear. Sakura settled in their silence, continuing her study of the wooden boards above her. No matter how much she stared, though, the thoughts in her head kept blending in like watercolors on a palette.

"Hey Sasuke," she called out quietly, shifting towards her teammate. The Uchiha glanced her way before turning his body fully towards her, a flicker of curiosity passing through his eyes. He watched her silently, waiting for her to continue.

Taking a deep breath, Sakura closed her eyes for a moment, relaxing into her sleeping bag. "I feel a little guilty," she admitted, her eyes opening to meet Sasuke's.

"Why?"

"I don't know, I just..." she bit her lip, considering her words. "Haku...I shouldn't have left him."

"Sakura, it was both of our decisions to leave him. It's not only your fault," he whispered to her. "Also, we aren't the ones who killed him."

"I know," she breathed, "but have you ever felt guilty for something you didn't do?"

He simply stared at her, his lips dropping down into a slight frown. When it dawned on her why he went silent, the kunoichi felt like smacking her head into a tree. Oh god, Sakura! She scolded herself. Are you stupid or something?

"I'm sorry," she spoke quietly, a worrying frown on her lips. "I didn't mean to say that." Fern hued eyes met shadowy orbs in apology, asking forgiveness of her teammate.

"It's okay," the Uchiha whispered under his breath, barely loud enough for Sakura to hear. When she did, though, her lips fell into a gentle smile with relief.

There was another small lull in their conversation, but the kunoichi didn't mind. She felt content just laying their next to Sasuke, comforted by the knowledge that he was awake as well. Before she knew it, though, she began to ask another question to her teammate.

"What do you think will happen to Zabuza?" Her voice floated throughout the dormant room, soft and steady. It would have seemed as if she had spoken to no one, but Sakura knew full well that Sasuke was listening intently.

"What do you mean?"

Sakura stared up at the ceiling, her lotus hair sprawled about her. "He lost the one person he had," she spoke softly, her voice slightly choking with pity. "He doesn't have anyone else."

At this, Sasuke responded with silence, his soft breaths filling her ears. She exhaled lightly, calming her mind into a peaceful state. She knew how personal the question was, but was still curious about his reaction. This is the closest I've ever been to Sasuke, she breathed. I want to understand him...

When he didn't respond for a couple of minutes, though, the kunoichi dropped her question. Instead, she shifted back towards her teammate, meeting his eyes once more. She gave the Uchiha a soft smile, her eyes shining with empathy.

"You don't have to answer that," she whispered, her tone warm and understanding. Sasuke gave her a small nod, shifting towards her once more. Before she could say anything more, though, a heavy weight clamped onto her back, a body rolling on top of her.

"Sakura-chan," Naruto drawled drowsily. His eyes were closed fully as he snuggled closer to the kunoichi, arms wrapping around her shoulders. "You have really pretty hair..."

"Uh..." Sakura shifted uncomfortably, arms pinned beneath her teammate's sleepy embrace. Deciding against waking the blond up, she looked at Sasuke, trying to convey her need for help. The Uchiha sighed deeply, an annoyed expression twisted on his face.

"Dobe..."

He got to his knees, reaching over towards Sakura to help her. Unfortunately for Naruto, Sasuke had no qualms about waking him up and roughly pushed him off the trapped kunoichi. By some miracle, the blond stayed asleep, a content smile on his face throughout. Whispering a small 'thank you' to Sasuke and getting a nod in return, both of the genin settled back down on their respective sleeping bags. Sakura looked back out the window, watching the way the stars flickered in the darkened sky.

Just when the kunoichi was beginning to feel drowsy, she felt a hand snake around her waist once more. "Naruto!" She hissed quietly, maneuvering away from her clingy teammate. Soon enough, her back hit a warm chest, her body immediately becoming still. She looked up to find a slightly irritated Sasuke looking down at her, though he didn't seem as much irritated at her as Naruto.

Sakura turned back towards the way she came, only to find her blond teammate and his obnoxious orange pajamas blocking her path. Oh god, the kunoichi shifted uncomfortably, squished between the two boys like sardines in a can. How did I get into this position?

She glanced at Naruto's drooling face and immediately turned around, choosing the lesser of two evils. Gazing up at Sasuke with a sheepish smile, the kunoichi tucked a strand of carnation pink behind her ear. "Sorry," she whispered, her cheeks burning as she tried to put some space between her and the Uchiha's chest. Ebony eyes looked down at her with slight annoyance, before a heavy sigh fell from Sasuke's lips.

Sensing his acceptance, Sakura let exhaustion take over her, the day's events finally catching up to her. A small yawn fell from her lips, her eyes becoming drowsy from the warmth of the two boys. This isn't that bad... Her lids flickered closed, her head unconsciously leaning against Sasuke's chest. His quiet breaths tickled her hair as she snuggled against his body, sleep clouding her conscious. There she fell asleep to the light snores from Naruto and the rhythm of Sasuke's heartbeat.


They set off for Konoha at dawn.

With her pack strapped over her shoulder and a pleasant smile on her face, Sakura followed her team out of Tazuna's cabin, beginning their trek back to their home village. She watched as the sun's subtle light kissed the distant horizon, warming her frozen cheeks amidst the chilly air. Shades of marigold, hibiscus, and tulip bloomed across the newborn sky, illuminating the bellies of cotton clouds and bringing the scenery alive.

Puffs of steam floated from Sakura's mouth as she exhaled, disappearing into the clean, refreshing atmosphere. The kunoichi sighed at the beauty of it all, taken by the subtle allure of nature and the peacefulness that surrounded her. It's so beautiful, she hummed, her mood lifted just by the sight of the morning sun. I wish it would stay like this the whole day.

But if it did, it wouldn't be as beautiful anymore.

Once they stretched their legs a bit, the ninja decided to use the trees to sprint to the docks in order to save time. Sakura didn't mind, mostly because the sun had already risen so high up that the magic was over, and the sky settled back into its light powder blue. Under the shade of the towering trees, they hopped from branch to branch, eventually reaching the docks in good time. The noon sun showered beams of light upon the genin, no longer adulterated by the ash clouds as it had been the past few days.

By three o'clock, the Konoha nin were back on the mainland, dragging their feet across the dirt trail in boredom.

"Ugh, There's nothing to do!" Naruto grumbled, kicking a poor pebble away from his path. "Can something interesting happen?"

"Can you shut up, Dobe?" Sasuke bit through clenched teeth, an aura of irritation surrounding him. "You've been whining for the past couple hours. Quit it."

"It's not my fault nothing is happening!"

"I asked you to-"

"Both of you shut up," Sakura moved between them, pushing the genin apart to diffuse the situation.

The kunoichi's teammates immediately fell silent, but that didn't stop them from sending nasty looks behind her back. Ignoring them, the pink-haired genin instead turned her attention to her sensei, who was simply reading his Icha Icha Paradise. Sakura wrinkled her nose in disgust, always astounded by the lengths the jonin would go to read the nasty book.

And the habit will never stop, she sighed. He'll never get tired of that stupid novel.

She tilted her head upwards, hoping to find anything that would catch her interest. The only thing her eyes met was a periwinkle blue, stretching far beyond what she could see. Unable to find anything of interest around her, Sakura let herself be captivated by her thoughts, getting lost in the feathery clouds that drifted aimlessly above her head.

This world is so different, yet so similar, she breathed. Everything around me is the same as it was three years ago, but...

Her gaze fell back to Earth, shifting subtly between Naruto, Kakashi, and Sasuke. Naruto and Sasuke had long ago dropped their nonsensical bickering, both of them walking beside her silence. Her optimistic teammate had resigned to kicking pebbles, mumbling something about how 'Sasuke was a jerk' and how he'd 'kick his stupid butt'. The Uchiha, on the other hand, just stared out into the dense woods surrounding them, his hair being tickled by the breeze like a panther's fur.

The people around me are so different.

When she was a genin in her previous life, she would've never thought of Naruto as a friend. That only came later on, when she started noticing Naruto as the true companion he was and his never-ending loyalty. And Kakashi-sensei would have never looked twice at me or took me seriously as a ninja, she shifted her gaze towards her nonchalant sensei. That only came when I started training with Tsunade-sama to become a medical ninja.

And Sasuke...

If there was anyone she thought her relationship had changed with the most, it was the Uchiha. All the experiences she has had with Sasuke, from the fights, to the spars, to the teamwork, were all new to her, something she would never have expected with the boy. Granted, he is still the same person as he was before, with the same cold attitude and the same goals. That'll never change. But he seems to see me as an equal now, someone he can work with or fight against.

Someone he can rely on.

Out of the corner of her eye, a pair of squirrels caught Sakura's attention. Their furry chestnut bodies chased each other up the tree, weaving around the trunk of a tall tree at high speeds. Sakura smiled at the entertaining animals, internally fawning over the adorable friendship of the pair. Even once they reached the top of the trunk, the two creatures kept playing, scurrying to different branches and bumping heads with each other. Eventually, they disappeared into the deep forest, leaving Sakura behind with a fond smile as she turned her gaze to the bottomless sky. Inhaling deeply, Sakura let the refreshing summer air fill her lungs before exhaling all of her thoughts into the wind.


By the time they reached Konoha, the afternoon sun had fallen deep into the horizon. Deep shades of navy covered the hidden village, prompting street lamps to flicker on and the temperature to drop to a sudden chill. Despite the odd time, the streets were almost overflowing with bodies, people bustling in the narrow streets as if they were all in a rush to do something. It was a strange sight in Konoha, which was normally a peaceful town except for the occasional drunks preaching in the streets.

The evening traffic was so heavy that Sakura decided to take to the rooftops, the rest of her team doing the same as they all scattered onto their separate paths. Naruto and Sasuke each went to their respective homes while Kakashi went straight towards the Hokage tower, eager to turn in the mandatory mission report and retire in for the night. Unlike her teammates, however, home was not prominent in the kunoichi's mind. Instead, when Naruto and Sasuke were no longer in sight, Sakura looped back towards the outskirts of Konoha, using her chakra to leap across the narrow alleyways and the lit-up markets.

Warm lamps illuminated the shopping squares, merchants calling out to late-night shoppers about their various items. One man showed off the stunning jewelry he made from rare stones in Iwagakure, while another woman waved around bottles of 'miracle potions' from the remote islands of the Land of Water. Tuning out the sound of the nightlight, the medic continued on past the bustling central squares, the calls and shouts slowly fading out behind her.

Moonlight caressed the tops of the stone buildings, bathing them in a heavenly glow and lighting up Sakura's path. Despite the breathtaking view that the rooftops offered of Konoha after dusk, the kunoichi stayed focused on her objective, hopping down from her perch on the roof to land in front of a familiar building. The ancient structure loomed over the petite girl, black rifts splintering across the crumbling stone surface. Tsunade-sama's Inn.

Briefly glancing at the passed out receptionist, Sakura sped past the decrepit lobby, hopping up two stairs at a time in excitement to see her sensei. She paused in front of the hotel room door, thinking twice and knocking politely, careful to avoid any splinters. She stood there for a couple of moments, waiting for her teacher to open the door in silence. Again, Sakura raised her hand, this time knocking about five times. Where is she? Another couple of moments passed with no answer, and Sakura was starting to feel awkward standing in the hallway alone. The pungent swamp green carpet stretching down the hallway clashed with the sickly mustard so horribly that it made her want to wrinkle her nose and grit her teeth in disgust.

Raising her hand to knock once more, the kunoichi leaped back when the shabby door swung open to reveal the Legendary Sannin. Her lips were pressed tightly in a deep frown, her arms crossed under her chest with a menacing flicker in her predatory eyes.

"What. The. Hell. Do. You. Want?" She spoke through clenched teeth, her nostrils flaring like a pit bull. "I can't even get one god damn night of rest. What do you need?"

By the slightly glazed over look in her amber eyes and the smell of sake surrounding the older woman, the pink-haired genin could tell that her mentor was deeply intoxicated. Sakura sighed, years of having to deal with a drunken master having built her fortitude.

"Sorry, Tsunade-sama," Sakura apologized with a meek smile. She then gathered herself, straightening her shoulders and dropping her apologetic expression. "But we really need to talk."

Tsunade's face twisted into a strict glare, as if attempting one last time to scare away the young medic. But Sakura stood strong, already a worn veteran of her master's rage. Seeing that she could not sway the pink-haired time traveler, the Sannin heaved a hefty sigh, finally surrendering as she reluctantly moved aside to invite Sakura in.

"Fine, fine," Tsunade relented, her world slightly slurred under the influence of alcohol. "This better be good."

A tiny triumphant grin sneaked onto Sakura's face, but quickly dropped at Tsunade's irritated glance. Not pushing her luck, the kunoichi popped into her sensei's distasteful chambers, already accustomed to the poor design of the building. Geez, this place really is a dump, she scanned the room, taking in the peeling paint and the chipped floorboards. I have to ask Shishou why she chose to stay here. This isn't like her at all.

Making her way over to the other side of the room, Sakura plopped down in the chair closest to the window, her eyes trained on her swaying master as she sat down. Tsunade's hand snatched a plastic water bottle from her bed stand, taking a swig of the bottle before giving her student an expectant look.

"I'm waiting."

Shifting into a more comfortable position, Sakura did a quick mental run-through of what she wanted to say. Well, I should probably cue Shishou in about what happened on the Waves Mission. That way, she can help me brainstorm any other possible effects my actions could have had on this timeline that I didn't catch.

She scrunched her eyebrows together, pursing her lips. What else? I do need to discuss the Akatsuki with Tsunade-sama...

Well, one thing at a time.

"As you know," the kunoichi started, "I've been on a mission with the rest of Team Seven in the Land of Waves. The thing is, though, that...there were a lot of things that were different during this mission than last time." She went on to summarize the events of the mission, starting with the attack from the Chunin all the way to Gato's sudden death. In particular, she went into detail about the old woman's strange eyes and Zabuza's odd recovery. Tsunade leaned forward in interest, her eyes losing their drunk, glassy look.

"...it's as if he hadn't been injured at all," the kunoichi emphasized, gesturing towards her stomach. "He was pierced right in the abdomen, and he was fighting the next day as if his wound had been magically healed. I'm telling you, Shishou, it doesn't make sense."

Tsunade nodded, scrunching her own eyebrows in concentration as she put a light hand on her chin. "That certainly is strange...none of this happened in your previous life?"

Her answer came when Sakura softly shook her head.

Pursing her lips, a more serious, focused aura came over the older medical ninja, her eyes narrowing at the intricate puzzle. "Well, I can't say anything about the old woman. I've never heard of a civilian being able to see chakra signatures before, even with transplants," she admitted, closing her eyes and shaking her head. The pink-haired kunoichi lightly frowned, her hand rubbing against her bracelet unconsciously.

"But," the Sannin continued, meeting Sakura's troubled gaze, "I can offer some insight with Zabuza's condition. You said he had, at most, a night of rest? I can think of only one or two ways that a person can survive a stomach wound without immediate contact with a healthcare professional." She seemed to drift off into her own thoughts, staring at the floorboards with calculating eyes.

"What are they?" Sakura leaned forward in curiosity, searching for an explanation in her mentor's golden orbs. "The only way I know how to treat a stomach wound is through immediate intervention. My patients would have needed at least two full days of rest. I've never heard of recovery to the point of being released into battle in one, single night."

"Well, that's the thing," Tsunade immediately replied, giving Sakura an intense look. "No one can heal that kind of wound fully with medical ninjutsu alone. There are other ways to heal someone other than traditional medical jutsu."

It took the kunoichi a moment, but when she caught onto what her sensei was implying, a cold, bitter understanding dawned upon her. "Kinjutsu," she whispered, afraid to even say the word aloud.

Tsunade nodded with a grim expression. "The Forbidden Techniques."

But it makes sense, the kunoichi admitted, trying to suppress a violent shudder at the thought of how hauntingly accurate her sensei's guess could be. Kinjutsu is widely frowned upon, but that doesn't mean that the practice has died out. Heck, the Shadow Clone Jutsu is a forbidden technique. Sakura bit her lip, clenching her chair's rough armrest. But that doesn't mean that there aren't worse techniques out there. The kind of techniques that aren't forbidden because they harm the user...

...but violate the laws of nature itself.

Taking a deep breath, the kunoichi tried to slow her rapid thoughts, taming the wild ocean of her consciousness into soft waves lapping against sandy shores. Against her will, a mighty yawn escaped the young girl, bringing back all the exhaustion she had forgotten in her quest to find her master.

Seeing this, Tsunade chuckled under her breath, rising up from her creaking, old chair. "Well, enough talks about forbidden techniques and the like," her rosy lips pulled into a light smile. "You need some rest, young lady." Not waiting for Sakura's reply, the woman grabbed her student's arm and pulled her up, dragging her to her room door.

"But wait!" Sakura protested, dragging her feet against the hardwood. "We have so much to talk about! What about the person who treated Zabuza? We also need to talk about the Akatsuki!" Ignoring her student's desperate blabbering, the Sannin unlocked her dilapidated door, virtually throwing Sakura out of her room.

"Look, Sakura," Tsunade sighed, leaning against the doorway as she faced her annoyed student. "I know you want to talk about this, but there is nothing we can do at the moment. I promise I'll keep a lookout for any suspicious activity, but the chances of us running into the person who treated Zabuza are slim. We can talk about the Akatsuki another day."

"But Tsunade-sama -"

"It's one in the morning, Sakura," the Sannin bit, her gentle tone quickly evaporating. "I'm tired. You're tired. Let's get some sleep."

The kunoichi gave a reluctant nod, hanging her head low at her sensei's scolding. Slim fingers tapped her chin, raising her head up to face Tsunade's warm eyes once more.

"Honestly," she chuckled, her blonde pigtails bouncing, "I have no idea how I dealt with you in my past life. You are so persistent." Her tone was lighthearted and teasing, the warmth infectious.

Sakura grinned in reply, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "You loved me."

"I can't see why," Tsunade shook her head, still teasing. "Oh and also," her voice reverted into a more serious tone, "the Hyugas came by and asked for you. They said that they wanted you to come by for a 'check-up'. It's probably to look over your pathways."

A check-up, huh? The kunoichi nodded, mentally noting the odd request. She bid goodbye to the Sannin before the ancient door slammed in her face, shaking dust onto the young girl. Shaking her head, Sakura sped down to the lobby and into the mysterious Konoha night.


Later that night, the pink-haired girl laid on her fresh, cool pillow staring up at the ceiling in thought. Something nagged at her, like a dog pulling at her pant leg trying to show her something. Something is off. But what is it? She bit her lip, turning onto her side. The old woman said that her eyes were transplanted by a traveling doctor. And Zabuza somehow is fully recovered from a fatal wound after one night. There just happened to be someone with knowledge of a forbidden technique to treat him. How is that possible? Is there something I'm missing?

The kunoichi sighed, burying her head under the crisp, cotton sheets. I can't think about that right now. Like Tsunade-sama said, I need to sleep. As if on cue, a small yawn escaped the young girl, pulling her deeper into the embrace of sleep.


Hi there everyone! I hope you like this chapter!

IMPORTANT: I'm currently looking for someone to beta my story, so if you know someone or you yourself are possibly interested, don't hesitate to message me! I'm always happy to receive other opinions and ideas :)

Now that the Waves Mission is over, there are a lot of inconsistencies popping up all over the place. For instance:

What's up with the old woman's strange eyes? Even though she has transplants, she shouldn't be able to see chakra signatures.

And what's wrong with Zabuza? Do you all think it was a forbidden technique user? What could this mean?

There are other questions in this chapter, but I'll let you figure those ones out for yourselves ;) Feel free to theorize about the strange occurrences going on around Sakura (trust me, it's only going to get worse from here)...

And of course, what do you guys think of that Sasusaku scene? How do you think their relationship is progressing (or is it worse?)

I appreciate everyone favoriting/following/reviewing this story! Your thoughts/opinions are really interesting to read :)

Thank you!