Splintered wood and leaves flew through the air as she careened relentlessly through the woods. Her anger, rage and desperation flowed through her body, to her fists, through the tears that flew from her eyes as she slammed another chakra filled fist into the ground. Earth, rock and grass flew up into the air leaving her surroundings, a devastated reflection of the devastation in her heart.
Kanta watched her rage from a safe distance, indecision played across his face. There was nothing he could do, no words would erase or ease the pain she felt, he knew, but he wished very much that there was something, anything, he could do to help.
She needed this, she needed the release, to let it out but he also worried she would attract unwanted attention. Her display was not subtle, her strength was not concealing, she was an unstoppable force, powerful and agile...he was amazed all over again as he watched the tiny pink haired kunoichi fly back and forth across the forest reeking havoc on everything her fists and feet came into contact with.
Sakura flipped backward off of a tall tree and landed winded but gracefully on the forest floor. A more than slightly guilty look spread across her face as she took in the damage she had caused. She stood in the middle of the wreckage and wiped the remaining tears from her face, before she turned toward Kanta.
Kanta's hand twitched as she came up to him, desperately wanting to reach out and touch her face, to tell her she wasn't alone, that he was there for her but...he couldn't, it wasn't right, he was beneath her position in life, time traveler or not. She tried to smile at him but she couldn't. Her mouth merely twitched then trembled.
'The hell with tradition and society', Kanta thought. He reached out for her, his hands taking hers and pulled her into a hug. He wrapped her arms around his waist as he wrapped his around her shoulders and drew her into his chest. "You're not alone Sakura. I'm here for you. Let me be here for you."
His voice was soft, sincere and warm. Fresh tears flowed from her eyes and fell onto his shirt as she melted into his touch, his reassurance. She began to sob not caring that she was soaking his shirt, not caring that they didn't know one another well enough to be this close, and not caring that they were in the middle of the woods surrounded by broken trees and crushed earth.
"They're gone Kanta, they're all gone and I'm here, I'm here and there is nothing I can do but find a god tree! A god tree! How, how am I supposed to do that? And when I find it, I have to destroy it? How the hell do you destroy a god tree!" She shook, she trembled with anger and frustration, she sobbed, she wailed, and through it all, he held her tight and whispered nothings into her ear.
"I'll help you. Together, we'll find a way Sakura. You're amazing, I know you can do it, and I'll help you. I promise." He swore, then, he would do whatever he could to help her.
"Thank you Kanta, I...don't know what I would do without you, you're a good friend." She sniffed and started to pull away but he held onto her hard and pressed his nose into her hair.
"Kanta?" Sakura said confused.
"Sorry." he muttered. He didn't want to let her go, she felt...good in his arms.
"It's okay, I just, I got your shirt wet, I'm sorry." She blushed and looked down a bit, suddenly shy.
"I don't mind Sakura." His gaze was direct.
Sakura shifted on her feet and pulled out of their embrace. "We should go home, I'll make us some dinner."
Kanta knew she didn't mean it in any other way than the words that were said but a little part of him, the selfish part, wished they had meant so much more.
"Of course Lady Sakura." Kanta followed her back to her house, desperately wishing it was theirs.
The next morning, Sakura was digging an outdoor fire pit when the Uchiha brothers rode up with a small wagon and a few servants. She had changed into her old jounin blues, her summer set, short sleeved shirt and shorts with her medic skirt over the shorts to dig the pit. She liked the kunoichi kimonos the Senju and the Uchiha had gifted her but for some tasks, her old clothes were much more appropriate.
Her hair that had been tied up earlier that morning was coming down in sweaty little wisps around her face sticking to the sweat on her forehead and cheeks. Dirt streaked her skirt and legs, her fingers caked with grime and grass stains on her elbows. She hadn't been expecting company and her eyes narrowed at the spiky haired ass that led the small group up to her new home.
Madara's eyes found her immediately as they passed over the rise, her pink hair shone in the sunlight that dappled the forest floor. The trail from the Uchiha compound had grown over since he had last been there and was barely visible to the naked eye. They rode up to the back of the home slowly to announce their presence but stopped several feet from the natural clearing for courtesy's sake.
'She's dirty', that was the first thought that came to his mind as he looked at her. 'She looks like a forest fairy from the old tales of the gods', was his second thought, and 'Why is she glaring at me, I just got here and haven't spoken one damn word yet, what the hell could she possibly be mad at me for now?' was his last thought before she opened her mouth.
"What the fucking hell Uchiha! I told you! Give me a few days to settle in!" She yelled at him stomping up to his horse making it shy and toss it's head.
Sakura grabbed the reins and steadied the horse much to Madara's surprise but continued to glare at him...she wanted an answer he realized.
"We've come to assist you in settling in." Madara said stiffly, with as much dignity as he could with a small fierce pink haired, dirty woman glaring at him and holding his horse at bay for him.
Izuna was smirking, enjoying the show, while the two women and one man that had accompanied them were looking at Sakura like she was mad.
"Are you deaf? I said I didn't need any help, I told you I didn't want anything from you and that I could handle this on my own." She stomped her foot for emphasis and the ground shook causing the horse to rear up.
Sakura lost her grip on the reins and Madara fell off of his horse to the suppressed laughter of his brother Izuna who couldn't quite hold it in.
"Damn it woman! What is your problem!" Madara jumped back up on his feet rolling forward into her personal space and glowering at her just as fiercely as she was glaring at him.
Although much shorter than Madara, Sakura was meeting him glare for glare and they were almost nose to nose in their anger and frustration with one another.
"Isn't it obvious? You! You're my problem, you don't listen!" Nose to nose they were oblivious to those around them.
The two women and the man had already dismount from their horses at a gesture from Izuna and were unpacking the wagon.
Kanta had come out of the house to see what the commotion was glaring at Izuna as much as Izuna was glaring at him.
"Lady Sakura...is everything alright?" Kanta stood tall and squared his shoulders at the Uchiha clan head.
Madara looked from Sakura to Kanta and raised an eyebrow at the man scoffing at his audacity, "What would you do if she said everything isn't alright, Senju?" Madara sneered at the man who blanched visibly under the scrutiny of the more powerful shinobi.
Madara let loose some of his killing intent and Kanta visibly cowered.
"Madara! Stop it right now!" Sakura growled at him not at all phased by his release of power.
Izuna who had been watching also sneered at the Senju, "Yes, Senju, what would you do? Not that the lady is in any danger from us, but I'm curious what a worm like you thinks he could possibly do to the clan head of the Uchiha and its heir?"
"Izuna, please don't add to my stress by encouraging your brother." Sakura turned to Izuna and half smiled half grimaced.
"Forgive me Sakura chan, I just...we were worried about you, so we came sooner than you requested, please forgive the intrusion." Izuna bowed at the waist, the two women and man followed suite with their own murmurs of apology.
Madara bristled at the interruption, still glaring at the Senju.
"What is he still doing here, he should leave. It isn't appropriate for him to be here with you, an unwed woman living alone. Your reputation…" Madara didn't get to finish his thought because Sakura cut him off.
"My reputation? What do you think we are doing out here in the woods alone Madara? Tell me, what do you think we could be doing that would impair my reputation?" It was a taunt and both of them knew it.
Madara's face grew red and he stammered , which made him angrier than he already was.
"Look here kunoichi, "He crossed his arms over his chest and looked down his nose at her.
"Think carefully before you finish that sentence Uchiha." Sakura literally growled at him as her fists began to glow green at her sides.
Izuna jumped between them, "Okay, let's have some tea, shall we?" He pulled Sakura by the arm into her house.
"Show me what you've done so far Sakura Chan." Izuna smiled down at her as he pulled her arm through his walking her into her own living room.
Sakura took a deep breath and let it out noisily through her nose.
"Kanta and I spent the rest of the day yesterday cleaning and unpacking our things from the storage scrolls Hashirama Sama gave me." She told him as she started to calm down.
She led him into the kitchen, the other company following, eyes wide and staring at the woman who had yelled at the clan head and was pulling the heir around by the arm.
Sakura filled her kettle with a quick water jutsu and set it to boil over the fire. Izuna sat down at the small table across from Sakura smiling at her. There wasn't enough room for the other three guests to sit and Sakura felt bad.
"I apologize but I just moved in yesterday and don't have much in the way of furniture." Sakura apologized.
"Megumi, Megeru." Izuna waved his hand in thier direction and they left the room.
Sakura watched them curiously.
"Hiro." Izuna addressed the man, who left as well.
"What did you tell them to do?" Sakura asked Izuna curiously.
"They will unload the wagon with some small simples we brought to help you feel more comfortable in your new home." Izuna said.
He continued on in a hurry when she opened her mouth to protest.
"This is not charity. I have a proposition for you. You are an excellent healer. The best that is known. If you are in agreement, we would like to send our sick to you for care and if you will allow, our clans men to stop by your home on the way home from missions, if they need any medical care. In payment, we will help you maintain your home in comfort, pay you an allowance and let you have free access to our clan library with the promise you will not share any gathered information with anyone else." Izuna laid the offer out before her...and a generous offer it was.
Sakura sat back for a moment considering his words. "Hum." She said as she got up to add leaves to the kettle and gather four mugs from her side board.
"A generous offer." She acquiesced.
Izuna smiled at her as she considered his proposal. When she hadn't said anything or asked him any questions for a few moments he added, "We would of course offer you the assistance of one of the maids we brought with us. She would stay with you here, if you like, to help with the cooking, cleaning, laundry and nursing."
Sakura hummed her approval, it would be nice to have a nurse at hand to help with the healing. Depending on her natural abilities, she might be able to train her. Sakura had considered taking on an apprentice before the war had begun.
"Do either of them have a chakra affinity, or have any previous training?" Sakura asked.
"You want to train the maid to heal? Like you? You can do that?" Izuna was surprised, and it must have shone on his face because Sakura laughed.
"Izuna kun, I can clean, and cook and do my own laundry, but if you are offering me an apprentice, I might take you up on your offer." She smiled at him sweetly and he blushed.
"A maid is not an apprentice." Izuna pointed out.
"No but I don't need both. I am willing to take on an apprentice who will also help with the cooking and the cleaning, I won't have a slave." Sakura said firmly.
"I should have known." Izuna smiled at her fondly. 'She really was a remarkable woman', he thought as his brother walked into the kitchen.
"This house is too small." Madara grumbled and Sakura glared at him.
"I sent your servant to the river for water." Madara told her.
"Kanta is not my servant, he is my friend, and he went?" Sakura didn't believe for one minute Kanta would obey an order from an Uchiha.
"He's not here is he?" Madara countered smugly then paused.
"Damn." Madara grumbled.
Izuna cast his brother an odd look that Sakura didn't quite understand.
"What?" She asked the brothers who seemed to be having their own private conversation without her.
Izuna coughed and Madara just rolled his eyes.
"It seems the man didn't go get water as Madara told him to, he er, is heading in the direction of the Senju compound…" Izuna informed her.
"Of course he is." Sakura let her head fall to the table with a small thunk.
Kanta dropped down in front of the front gates of his compound winded and out of breath. Nodding to the guards he ran to the main house and knocked on the door flashing his chakra so they knew it was him.
"Kanta, are you here with Sakura?" Tobirama slid the door open and looked inquisitively at the man before him.
"No Lord Tobirama, Sakura is at the freehold as I reported in my last missive. I also reported her association with the Uchiha clan. They showed up unexpectedly this morning, moments ago and started ordering Lady Sakura around. The younger of the two pulled her into the house with him after the older one, the clan head yelled at her." Kanta told Tobirama frantically.
Tobirama motioned Kanta to follow him as he made his way further into the house to find his brother.
"Hashirama, Kanta is here, he says the Uchiha are at the freehold Sakura has taken residence in and are strong arming her." Tobirama bit out at his brother who was relaxing with a cup of tea and a book before they had entered the sitting room.
"Kanta? Is that true?" Hashirama asked him calmly.
"Yes Lord Senju, she wasn't expecting them, they said they would check on her in two to three days time like she requested but they showed up today this morning and well… she wasn't happy to see them." Kanta said, his worry still evident.
"How do you know?" Hashirama asked curiously much to Tobirama's annoyance, he wanted to leave and make sure Sakura was alright.
"Well, Lady Sakura said as much, she was furious that lord Madara hadn't listened to her, and...they started yelling at one another, they were nose to nose sir." Kanta said, his admiration for the little kunoichi clear to both Senju.
"Really?" Hashirama was grinning.
Madara was letting a woman yell at him? He was yelling back at her? It had been quite some time since Hashirama and Madara had been friends but...they still knew one another very well and Hashirama knew, this meant something.
"Interesting." Hashirama mused.
"Well, what are we going to do, we should go check on her shouldn't we, make sure she is alright." Tobirama demanded.
"Yes yes Tobi, I'm getting there, but you know, I think Sakura might be a decent match for Madara." Hashirama laughed a little to himself.
"She barely beat me in a spar brother, and I was holding back. As much as I loathe the man, he is a strong opponent, Sakura is not strong enough to kill him." Tobirama protested.
"I never said kill, or even spar Tobi." Hashirama rose from his seat.
Kanta was nearly dancing on the spot anxious to get moving.
"I think we should pay Sakura a visit as well, to welcome her into her new home. Let's see, what should we bring…" Hashirama walked out of the room talking to himself.
Tobirama sighed, "Kanta get a few of the maids and make a list for them of all the things you know Sakura needs or doesn't have, my brother, though well meaning won't bring her anything useful."
Kanta nodded and bowed, he remembered all the ceremonial kimonos the Lord Senju had gifted Sakura for her travels into the forest.
