Just before leaving Sakura made a clone so that Nawaki wouldn't be alone that would also make him dinner as she, Haku and Karin left the house and headed for the Uchiha Compound "Remind me again why the Head Uchiha wants to see us" Haku grimaced.
Feeling uncomfortable already, Karin grumbled under her breath "He's our sensei, or rather unofficial one and he probably wants to talk about what's going to happen soon" Karin explained, having figured out the puzzle hours earlier.
Haku raised his brow "She means that he's going to be escorting us to Iron where I'll meet my Uncle for the first time" Sakura said still a little touchy about the subject of family, especially ones she'd never met before.
Questions answered Haku fell silent until they reached their destination, where Sasuke was waiting for them "Good lets go" Sasuke saw the not quite complete team despite all its members being together then turned on his heel.
And led them deeper into his clans compound only to stop several minutes later in front of a large house "It's so good to finally meet you Sakura-chan, Karin-chan, I'm Sasuke's mother Mikoto Uchiha, you can just call me Mikoto-chan if you want" a ebony haired woman greeted.
The moment they entered the foyer of the house to take off their sandals, Mikoto even hugged the two girls briefly because she'd been warned by Sasuke they didn't do well with people being overbearing towards them.
"Uh, yes nice to meet you Mrs. Uchiha" Karin greeted back, at her politest to Mikoto's absolute frustration because she didn't want the girls to be proper with her like her own children were all the time.
Sasuke bit back a smirk "I tried to tell you Mother, that Karin and Sakura are polite, even if they hate a person their polite" Sasuke chimed in, knowing that Sakura could have called him a variety of names while being on his team but hadn't.
Mikoto huffed at him "There's plenty of time to change their minds Sasuke-chan but for now lets all head on in to the dining room where dinner is waiting for you three and my husband" Mikoto reminded not that Sakura, Karin or Haku would forget the reason they came there.
So after making sure their shoes weren't in the way followed Mikoto and Sasuke further on into the house to the dining room and seated around the table were Shisui, another Uchiha they hadn't been introduced to yet and the Uchiha Patriarch.
Fugaku stood the moment they entered the room "Pleased to make your acquaintance Haku Yuki also greetings to you again Sakura Haruno and Karin Uzumaki, I'm Fugaku Uchiha as I'm sure your well aware and Team Thirteen's unofficial Squad Leader" Fugaku greeted with a smirk.
Ignoring the way his youngest spluttered in surprise at what he'd just revealed "Could have warned me so I didn't practically have a heart attack at the news" Sasuke grumbled at Sakura who quirked a brow at him.
Before he could delve into the subject he wanted to discuss with them his wife clapped her hands "Sit and eat first before having a serious discussion that could take half the night" Mikoto declared hands on her hips indicating she meant business.
He quickly acquiesced to her demands by gesturing for the three to join them at the table and somehow Sakura found herself seated between Shisui and the unnamed that she eyed carefully "Pardon me, I'm Itachi, Sasuke's older brother" Itachi smiled kindly.
When he noticed her staring at him subtly "By the way I went by your apartment but the owner said you moved out a week ago" Shisui drew Sakura's attention before the girl could response to his best friends introduction.
"Truth….with Haku and Nawaki staying with us, and having the deed to my old house, Karin and I decided to just move into the house which has more room and its nice to meet you Itachi-san" Sakura explained calmly.
Greeting Itachi with the same kind of smile he'd given her "Ugh your to much sometimes Sakura, and how the heck are you even affording a house when I know that knucklehead has trouble with his own rent" Sasuke groaned.
Sakura blew out a quiet breath "We had some fund saved up from Kumo, plus with the rate we complete missions and Sakura's micro-managing it's a bit easier for us, not to mention our sensei back in Cloud gave us some money to help us to" Karin answered for her sister.
Itachi raised a brow then looked to his Father who shook his head indicating he hadn't known either "Micro-managing so basically your saying Sakura's a control freak over money" Shisui laughed finding that funny.
Only to get whacked over the back of the head by Mikoto as she went around dishing up the food and putting places in front of those around the table so as not to be remiss in her duties as the host of that nights extremely interesting dinner.
Next to Karin, Haku felt irritation bubble in his chest over the perceived insult to Sakura "I for one am not complaining, it's only thanks to Sakura that I have a home, where I don't have to fear for my life every day" Haku defended suddenly.
Verdant orbs widened then softened "Don't worry Haku, Shisui-san didn't mean that to be an insult…not that I consider it one any" Sakura grinned widely, Haku had the grace to apologize after that for misunderstanding.
Though Shisui assured him that he wasn't offended any just surprised at how defensive Haku had been over the pinkette, unaware by all except for Itachi, Fugaku during that moment had nodded in a pleased way at the camaraderie between the three.
Because he'd noticed Karin about to jump in for Sakura's sake as well "Right I almost forgot but don't you have another living with you at the house, Nawaki Senju who mysteriously came back to life but was confirmed by Hokage-sama to be the real one and not an impostor" Mikoto asked.
Karin immediately nodded "Before we left Sakura-chan made a clone so that he wasn't alone and that would also make him dinner to" Karin admitted, that's just how selfless Sakura was really not that she was going to complain about it.
"Aww that's sweet of you Sakura-chan" Mikoto exclaimed unable to help herself as she hugged the girl from behind for a second then seated herself at the table again to enjoy the evening meal she'd prepared.
Sasuke shuddered glad that it wasn't him on the receiving end of his mothers hugs this night "That's right, from what you said earlier Father, it sounded like you've already met Sakura and Karin" Sasuke questioned.
Remembering what had been nagging at him a bit ago "Correct Sasuke, this is our second meeting after you threatened Sakura-san and I spoke to Lord Hokage where he decided to honor his promise to the Raikage" Fugaku stated simply.
Alerting Sakura and Karin as to who it was that had spoken on their behalf to get them put on a team like they should have been when they'd arrived in Leaf, while Sasuke flinched and lowered his gaze in shame.
Until Karin discretely pat his hand that had clenched into a fist under the table and Sakura proved how selfless she was "That's all water under the bridge now" Sakura waved her hand dismissively having already forgiven Sasuke.
Itachi hid a smile behind his hand as his otouto flung his head up to stare at Sakura in shock complete with gaping but Sakura had already resumed eating not paying Sasuke anymore attention "Come to think of it, I heard a new trading company has come to Leaf" Itachi chimed in.
Watching in a small manner of amusement as Sakura froze, fork midway to her mouth before she lowered the silverware to her plate "Your talking about the Fragrant Blossom aren't you" Sakura sighed seeing that the jig was up.
Not that she was hiding it anyway "Fragrant Blossom, Itachi-chan, Sakura-chan what are you talking about" Shisui asked more than a little curious about this mysterious trading company that Sakura seemed to know about.
"Precisely Shisui-san, it's mine and Sakura-chan's company, though Haku's one of our partners and we're creating our own line of merchandise to sell by making deals with merchants that Sakura-chan's parents use to deal with since they were merchants" Karin explained.
Fugaku didn't let surprise show on his face at the news "Okay I get Fragrant Blossom it's practically a play on your names but shouldn't Haku be included if he's one of your partners and what are you even making in the first place" Sasuke questioned.
Getting the feeling he would never understand Sakura or Karin "I wanted it that way Sasuke, since I asked after they'd already decided on a name and I'm making weapons out of my ice, right now all I have to sell are throwing needles but I'm working on shuriken next" Haku announced.
"As for the other question I'm making medical pouches and Karin's making perfume and poison spray though that's just starting out, once we're established I plan on expanding to traveling merchants and hopefully other villages" Sakura finished.
Mikoto shot a wide eyed look at her husband "Quite ambitious aren't you in any case I'm sure you don't wish to be here all evening so we'll excuse ourselves to my office to speak of the reasons I invited you here tonight" Fugaku commented.
Done eating as was everyone else, except for Shisui but with Team Thirteen on his heels he led the way to his office and sealed it off from eavesdroppers then waited until the trio had sat in the chairs before his desk.
Them waiting patiently "Lets make this quick shall we, as I'm sure you know in ten days Haku will be a permanent member of Team Thirteen and that's also when we'll be going to Tetsu no Kuni for the arranged meeting between your Grand Uncle" Fugaku informed.
Clearly not a fan of wasting time his especially and Sakura nodded "But that is not the main reason I invited you here, just one of them, I'm sure I don't have to tell you what to pack for the trip and we'll be gone two weeks now onto the truly pressing matter" Fugaku quirked a brow.
Prompting the kunoichi in question plus Haku to shake their heads "I'm in the process of building a somewhat clinic here in the compound, it will be done by the time we get back and I'm extending the offer to work there to the both of you" Fugaku explained.
Karin reached out for Sakura's hand purely out of habit from years spent comforting each other "Okay and what would we be getting out of this if we agree to work in your clinic that I'm sure will be exclusively for the Uchiha Clan" Sakura narrowed her eyes.
Not accepting right away until she was sure it would benefit them in some way "Hmm free access to one of the clan training grounds, a greenhouse all to yourselves and a place to work in doing something that you enjoy while getting paid" Fugaku stated.
Obviously knowing her better than she thought "Tempting what do you think Karin-chan, Haku, I can teach you all about herbs if you want" Sakura glanced to her teammates though one wasn't officially on her team just yet.
He was already as good as her teammate "Others first before yourself, he'll also be paid for work once he's competent enough at what you teach him" Fugaku relented to the unasked request that the girl had made.
"Fair enough and I promise to do my best learning all you have to teach me Sakura" Haku promised, finding the deal the Uchiha Patriarch was proposing to them more than acceptable now it was just up to Sakura to accept it.
Which she did a minute later "You have a deal Uchiha-sama on one more condition, I ask that you allow me to donate a collection of medical books that are very special to me to the clinic, I have copies but the originals I want somewhere they can be used appropriately for the good of helping people" Sakura asked.
Pulling out a scroll that she kept on her at all times and unsealing it to reveal a mountain of books, Karin gasped in response indicating that she recognized the books "Why the clinic and not the library or even the hospital" Fugaku frowned.
Just a little surprised at the staggering tower of books she had in her possession "Where they won't be appreciated or taken care of, I don't think so, these are more important to me than life itself" Sakura scoffed.
The surprises kept coming "Care to tell me why their so important to you that you would risk your life for them" Fugaku inquired, understanding where the girl was coming from, they wouldn't allow the books to be mistreated.
Sakura smiled sadly "These books are my teachers life work, all hand written so you won't find them any where else in the world and I lost them when she died because the village I lived in didn't honor her wishes for them to go to me" Sakura began.
Voice straining with emotion that she was trying to hold back "But unexpectedly when I became a genin, my sensei in Cloud found them in that village, completely abandoned and in tact and thought to give them to Karin and I and suddenly a part of my past was returned rightfully to me" Sakura continued.
"If someone from this village knew I had them they would try to take the books from me considering the woman who wrote the books was named Isha Uzumaki and I'd fight tooth and nail for these books" the pinkette finished.
Taking a deep breath to calm herself because it was always hard talking about Isha "Well when you put it that way though I won't deny someone especially the Council of Elders and Lord Hokage wouldn't try to take them, I'll allow you to donate them to the clinic" Fugaku said.
Understanding where Sakura was coming from and inwardly promising to keep the books secret so they wouldn't be confiscated "Thank you Uchiha-sama" Sakura bowed her head as she sealed the books back into the scroll.
Before handing it over to him in a show of trust "Now I believe we have spoken long enough and I'm quite ready to retire for the evening so you may leave and remember in ten days we'll be heading to Tetsu no Kuni" Fugaku announced.
Dismissing Team Thirteen from his office where after briefly saying farewell to his wife and sons all together left the house and compound so they could walk home "Thank kami your back even though you left a clone it was scary" Nawaki practically jumped Sakura.
When she entered the house along with Karin and Haku "Sorry Nawaki it was a long meeting" Karin apologized, looking drained for some reason in fact so did Sakura for an entirely different reason like she was emotionally exhausted.
Haku was the only one who seemed like he was okay "Though I know you won't like hearing this, that's probably going to be happening more often, us leaving for long periods of time" Sakura chimed in.
Feeling absolutely terrible when Nawaki slumped his shoulders "But remember you won't be alone, you'll have your team which I'm sure you can invite over or even go spend the night with one of them I'm sure Naruto would appreciate it" Haku interjected.
Just like that Nawaki was no longer depressed "Guess it will have to do…so what did that Uchiha guy want to talk to you about anyway" Nawaki inquired, curious, why wouldn't he be when he'd been left alone for hours with only a clone for company.
"Lots of things Nawaki, we'll explain in the morning and also Haku here these are the copies of those books I want you to start reading them" Sakura said, while reaching up on her tiptoes and grabbing something from the highest shelf.
Another scroll that had been hidden by a picture frame of her, Karin and a tall blonde all of them wearing Kumo hitai-ate's, Haku took the scroll carefully then headed for his bedroom prompting Sakura and Karin to do the same, Nawaki sighed but followed their lead.
~6 days later~
After explaining the discussion they'd had with Fugaku to Nawaki, the remaining six days of the trial week Sakura had for her product at Junichi's stall ended "Time to go find out how it did, if all 35 med kits were sold" Sakura said.
Psyching herself up "Lucky you I don't find out until tomorrow" Karin sulked a bit, a bundle of nerves over that realization as Sakura finally managed to retain a more confident air about herself which meant it was time to go.
Reminiscent of a week ago, Junichi was waiting for them or rather Sakura "Haruno indeed, congratulations Sakura, all of your product sold out by day five, proving that you're a merchant through and through" Junichi clapped.
Handing over what the girl was due in a vanilla envelope "We have a deal so whenever you go out on one of your missions while you can I expect some of my own wares to be sold to further establish your trading company" Junichi said next.
Nudging a sack of seasoning herbs, one of his main products over to Sakura "Of course am I assuming there's enough for two weeks worth, good and here's the next batch, enough to last two weeks and five days hopefully" Sakura nodding.
Grabbing the sack and slinging it over her shoulder while giving Junichi more of her product to sell "I can't believe we're actually doing this" Karin had a mini freak out once they arrived on their training grounds forgoing missions that day.
"Chances are our own products did just as well considering their unique and unfamiliar, people will be irresistibly drawn to them and won't be able to stop themselves from buying it thus increasing the items popularity as well" Haku chuckled lightly.
Watching Sakura who sealed the sack of seasoning herbs away before rising and settling into a stance then launching at Karin who barely had time to take up a defensive position before she was being punched.
Nawaki blinked then looked to Haku "Want to spar just until their done with theirs" Nawaki requested hopefully and just like that they were sparring to for the next half an hour, though Sakura and Karin's lasted for forty five minutes.
Before they switched to working on elemental ninjutsu for once having obviously learned a new jutsu for their elemental natures somehow while neither Haku or Nawaki were watching apparently what was surprising though.
Was that Sakura and Karin had the exact same chakra natures "That's unusual" Haku commented having never seen anyone let alone two people have the same two natures naturally not that he had many people to compare them to since his list had stopped at Zabuza.
Though realizing it was probably going to give him a headache to try and figure out the girls he focused his attention on practicing his own jutsu's while Nawaki honed his shuriken-jutsu skill since he didn't know his element or have any jutsu to train with at the moment.
Until finally after three hours they were done training for the day "Ready to see how your senbon sold Haku" Sakura grinned up at him as the four of them headed for the weapons store, Haku simply nodded.
More than a bit nervous as they entered the shop and went up to the counter where the Hatori was stood waiting "I underestimated the popularity those needles would have and sold out in four days" Hatori admitted.
Sliding an envelope towards Haku who caught it before it slid off the counter "Does that mean your willing to honor our deal then" Haku questioned, pulling out the next batch of stock he'd made in preparation for this day.
Like Sakura had "Of course boy as long as she honors ours by selling some of my weapons, whichever kind you like to whoever you can whenever you leave the village, I take pride in my work and I don't allow this honor to many traveling merchants" Hatori snorted.
Glad that there was one more merchant under her belt Sakura perused the selection "Swords preferably long ones in a few days we're being escorted to Iron and I know the samurai would appreciate your swords" Sakura decided after a moment.
Hatori nodded and promised that he would have the stock ready the day before she left which was in two days "Just crazy" Nawaki shook his head, distracted until he heard Karin gasp so he quickly looked.
Only to see Naruto being thrown out of the food shop "And stay out you little demon bastard we don't serve your kind" the shop owner dusted his hands off with a look of utter disgust on his face that it had even him starting to get angry.
It was Sakura however who actually did something "Excuse you asshole but is that any way to treat someone" Sakura snarled quite literally exploding her wrath upon this unfortunate person who had just thrown someone she was coming to care about in the dirt.
Naruto whipped around baby blue eyes widening in absolute horror as Sakura marched her way between him and that shop owner "So your one of those demon sympathizers then your no longer welcome in my shop either demon loving freak" the owner sneered.
Sakura smiled so saccharine sweet that it even had Haku rubbing his arms at the killing intent she was directing at the idiot who'd set her off "Fine I'll take my business elsewhere because anyone who treats another human being like you just did doesn't deserve business" Sakura declared.
"That thing is not human, he's a beast in human form" the man argued, clearly trying to sway her into thinking his way that Naruto was undeserving of any kindness but it was those words that made Sakura understand.
As she shot Naruto a sympathetic smile "He's more human than you are, come on Naruto, we're done here and your coming with me" Sakura held out her hand, Naruto hesitantly accepted it and a second later he was heaved onto his feet.
Being dragged off down the street to Sakura's house that she shared with the others "So you're a Jinchuuriki huh…relax I'm not judging, in fact I met someone back in Cloud who had another of the tailed beasts sealed into her and guess what she was friends with him" Sakura admitted.
Soothing the blonde who flinched a habitual response probably then his brain caught up "What you mean this lady was friends with the monster inside of her" Naruto gaped not able to comprehend the news most likely.
From behind them "Yep that's right her name was Yugito she had the two tails Matatabi and then there was also Bee-san that we never had the chance to meet who had the eight tails Gyuki so who do you have sealed in you Naruto" Karin chimed in.
"Nine tailed fox, I don't know his name though" Naruto scuffed his sandal in the dirt still being practically tugged along by Sakura until they reached a large house in the middle of the civilian section and he was led in.
Where he took his sandals off at the door and then got sat down at the kitchen table "If we send a letter to Yugito-sensei she can ask Matatabi what the nine tails name is and tell us but for now I think you need something a little pick me up so to speak" Sakura assured.
Taking a seat at the table herself and pulling out red material and polyester cotton filling "Are you seriously going to make him a stuffed version of the nine tailed fox Sakura" Haku quirked a brow not sure why he was surprised.
As she got started on cutting out a pattern while once again employing the use of shadow clones to sew and stuff the tails as she worked on the main body over the next two hours in which Haku made lunch for the five of them.
Until a stuffed nine tailed fox was finished and placed in front of Naruto "Now I know getting stuffed animals at our age is a bit silly given our profession where one would see it as a weakness or just plain childishness, you don't have to broadcast it but I hope it does give you some form of peace" Sakura said.
Eating her lunch now though it was cold but her jade orbs were trained completely on Naruto who hesitated for all of three seconds before he was crushing the stuffed nine tailed fox to his chest gently and obviously trying not to break down crying.
Thanking her profusely all in the same moment, after awhile Naruto left, with the stuffed nine tailed fox clutched to his chest possessively "Makes one wonder how long Naruto's been suffering that kind of treatment" Nawaki frowned.
Sakura grit her teeth "You saw his reaction to me even mentioning the word Jinchuuriki so I don't think this is a recent thing it's most likely spanning the entirety of his childhood" Sakura ground out trying to reign in her anger.
Thankfully Nawaki knew she wasn't angry with him "Well at least his actions make more sense now, he's been treated poorly for so long that he doesn't know any other way to act" Karin commented.
"But I doubt even if we went to Hokage-sama he'd be able to do anything" Haku finished, realizing how awful others had it and now he couldn't blame Sakura for doing something that would encourage Naruto to keep acting like a child.
It was clearly to much for even Sakura to imagine as she pulled harshly on her long pink hair "Come on Nawaki, want to help me make my poison sprays again since my perfume is already done" Karin requested.
Knowing what Sakura needed at the moment was to be alone "Right" Nawaki grimaced following the redhead into the living room where they had a lot of space to sit and work on Karin's project and a few minutes later Haku joined them.
To practice forming shuriken out of his ice release jutsu while Sakura stayed in the kitchen, half an hour later a delicious smell filled the house indicating the rosette was cooking "Looks like we're having homemade curry tonight" Karin sniffed the air.
"How can you tell Karin all I know is that whatever she's cooking in there smells absolutely mouthwatering" Haku questioned, reworking his bloodline element with a real shuriken as his base for his attempted ice shuriken.
Karin grinned "Sakura always makes some form of spicy food whenever she's angry, though she'll probably take into account that you two might not like extremely spicy food and make her sweet potato curry it will still be curry nonetheless" Karin explained.
She knew how Sakura thought after all "And if your wrong about it being curry, will you help me find out what elements I have so that I can start training with my chakra natures to" Nawaki asked wanting to find out how much faith Karin had in Sakura.
"Doubtful but I'll help you either way regardless of if I'm wrong or not" Karin shrugged and Haku bit back an amused smile as he realized it wasn't just Sakura who was completely selfless, Karin was as well.
An hour later Sakura called out that dinner was ready and just as Karin said the evening meal was curry, sweet potato curry to be exact "You two are impossible sometimes you know that right" Haku sighed.
Feeling oddly exhausted while earning a confused look from Sakura "Sorry I was so angry earlier" who apologized in the next moment, prompting another sigh from Haku while Karin snickered and Nawaki shook his head.
Not long after that with Haku, Karin and Nawaki's help to clean up the kitchen and store away their curry leftovers in the fridge Sakura disappeared out the backdoor to pick as many of her herbs that she could so that while they were gone to Iron she'd be able to make more stock.
And the next day Karin got her first payment from the merchant she let sell her perfume and poison sprays "On to phase two of reviving the business" Sakura declared two days later on the day they were to leave, packed and ready as she waited at the gates with her teammates.
"Quite, I can't wait to see what this trip brings us and how it will effect the business" Haku smiled, more than pleased that he was carving a new path for himself with the help of people that were quickly becoming very important to him.
Five minutes later "Uchiha-sensei's coming" Karin informed, having had her senses spread already despite still being in the village, one never knew when they would be attacked after all and she'd rather not be caught unaware so early on.
Two minutes after her declaration Fugaku appeared at the end of the street with Itachi on his heels "Lord Hokage decided to send Itachi with us at the last minute, signed out, good, lets go" Fugaku ordered, doing just that and marching out of the village in the lead.
Leaving Itachi to guard their rear as they walked in the direction of Tetsu no Kuni to give a certain Head Samurai the chance to meet his long since thought dead Great Grandniece and with it the potential to open communication between the samurai and shinobi to attain peace between their lands.