Note: CAREFUL. Tooth rotting stuff ahead.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto


Chapter 33

Tobirama was looking out of the window. In the two days after the antidote was administered to her, many things had happened. Everything other than her waking up. The Uchihas had been interrogated by the Yamanaka and were deemed innocent. The Yamanaka had delved into each of their memories of the past months. The only person who was aware of the whole thing had decided against it in the beginning and had revealed to the Uchiha leader important information. The man had been judged and was now watched, not allowed to use his chakra until told otherwise.

Madara had shared the reason why the shinobi they interrogated had died. The man had told him that it was a technique that one of the clansman responsible for Sakura's kidnapping had developed with his sharingan. Clansman which he had killed in the cavern. No one knew the specifics of this technique, so no one would mention it and it would be forgotten one day.

Tobirama started nodding off when a small burst of chakra coming from the bed made him snap his head in her direction. She opened her eyes and when he met this soft emerald color that he thought he's never see again, the young Senju was overwhelmed with powerful emotions and almost choked while taking in a deep breath. He had worked on the antidote and stayed with her for days without sleep. The relief he felt at that moment almost made him pass out. He wanted to run to her, hold her tight, kiss her, cry… But most of all, he needed to rest. He needed to process what had happened to her and to him by extension, before to think about anything else.

Now that she was safe, he could relax. Without a word, he got on his feet, walked to the door and before to leave, gave her one last look over his shoulder. He transported to his bedroom, breathing hard. She was alive. She was safe. I did it… Slumping in his bed, sleep took him even before his head touched the mattress.


Hashirama had been looking for his brother and when he heard that Sakura was awake in the hospital. He knew just where his brother was. Making his way in the compound, the Senju leader went to his brother's room to find him deep asleep, cheeks damps. Exhaustion probably took him by surprise because he was still fully dressed, on top of the blanket with his legs dangling from his bed. Chuckling, Hashirama installed him in bed properly and covered him with the blanket. He had done it.


Sakura was still in shock, looking at the door like it held all the secrets of the universe. He had stormed out of her room just like that. Without a word. He might not have cared about her at all after all… A knock on her door made her forget her sad thoughts. Mito entered, bright smile, with some water that she gave Sakura.

"Sakura, it is so good to see you finally awake!" Sakura took a moment to sit comfortably and met her friend's eyes.

"Some people do not share your opinion, unfortunately." Sakura leaned back on the pillow, gulping some cold water and sighing when it soothed her parched throat.

Mito frowned at that. "What do you mean?"

Putting down the water, Sakura shrugged and tried not to look affected by the words she was about to say. Squaring her shoulders she met her friend's eyes.

"Tobirama just about ran out of here as soon as I opened my eyes."

Mito chuckled and sat on the bed, next to the pink-haired medic, grabbing her hand.

"He had a good reason to do so." Seeing Sakura about to interrupt her, Mito raised a hand. "Sakura, the man brought you here, helped Ama when she removed the poison, and worked relentlessly on the antidote that you never finished. He spent more than three days working on it, refusing to sleep until he figured it out." Sakura's eyes widened but she kept silent, listening to the redhead. "Then he proceeded to wait for the antidote to work. You opening your eyes was all he needed to be at peace. The man stayed awake for about six days just to make sure you were safe."

Another laugh left Mito when she took in Sakura's expression.

"Ama even tried to have Madara drag him out of your room to no avail."

Silently looking at Mito in awe, Sakura could not talk. Hashirama entered her room at that moment and chuckled, looking at his wife.

"He fell asleep all dressed. It looks like he fell on his bed and was out in an instant."

Mito shrugged, a small smile on her lips.

"You say that like it is surprising. He was exhausted."

Mito and Hashirama stayed with her for a moment and later Madara and Izuna came for a visit, making sure that she was ok. When she was alone, she thought about what Mito had said. He really stayed this long without sleeping for her?


Under Ama's order, Sakura stayed another day in the hospital and was discharged sometimes in the afternoon. Madara came to help her home. During the walk, she had asked him how he felt after everything and he had smiled to her. He had told her that he went through the whole interrogation and made his clan do it willingly because he wanted to keep the trust that the villagers placed in him.

Seeing how people greeted him on the way to her house, she understood that people did not think him or his clan responsible for what happened to her and was happy about it. There was no fear lingering in their eyes, nothing other than pure trust and happiness to see the man walking in the streets with everyone's favorite medic. When they reached her house, he hugged her, dropping a kiss on the top of her head and left so she could relax.

Entering in her house, she went to the bathroom first and took a long and hot bath, releasing some of the tension in her muscles as well as scrubbed her hair thoroughly. She was still really sore, but it was slightly better. Once out of it, she changed in her clothes and sat at her table.

She had done it. She had killed Zetsu and prevented so many things. A pang in her heart made her frown. How would life be when she would return home? Would Naruto have parent? Not only that, but would her life be the same? Maybe that young Sakura in a world that was more peaceful would not want to be a shinobi and would only be a civilian. Could she really go back home with all this knowledge and settle like a normal person?

Her mind was spinning with the information that had been given to her by Kurama, with everything that had happened to her. Not able to stay in her house with her thoughts, she grabbed her weapons and left for the training grounds. She knew that she needed some rest, but she could not. Not when her mind was reeling.


At the training ground she warmed up with taijutsu for a moment, feeling the tension where her muscle had been torn in her shoulders. When her body was ready, she then punched a three, the explosion sending pieces of bark all around.

"What did this tree do to you?" Sakura froze, hearing the voice behind her. "You should be resting, not destroying the forest again."

Taking a deep breath, Sakura faced him, heart hammering in her chest. Observing him, she could understand that Mito was not kidding when she had said that he stayed awake for days. Even though he slept, he looked terribly tired. His hair was peeking in all directions, he still had some dark circles under his eyes and looked paler than usual. But he was still so handsome.

Tobirama had been sleeping when her chakra woke him up. He decided to make his way to see her there. Alive. She was alive and well. The emotions had overcome him. After he opened his mouth, an awkward silence settled between them.

Eyeing each other, they just stood there. This whole situation was out of the ordinary. At some point, Sakura realized everything he had done for her the past few days and she met his crimson eyes.

"I wanted to thank you. You left so fast that-" She shook her head, not wanting to sound bitter. "Thank you."

"For what?" She had a small laugh and cocked her head on the side.

"They told me what you did. Getting me to Ama on time, working day and night on an antidote… Saving my life. I know that you said that you should not have saved me the first time we met, so I did not expect you to save me this time around. Even though it might not mean much to you, it does mean a lot to me..."

Her comment took him aback. Was this really how she thought he was feeling? She did not remember how he almost fell apart when he found her all bloodied and held her close? Did she really think he did not care?

Sakura did not look away. The man was in thoughts and not seeing any answers coming from him, sighed and grabbed her weapons. Frowning, she kicked some dirt with the tip of her foot.

"If it makes you feel better, it is only a matter of time before I return to where I am from. You won't have to deal with my presence for much longer." A sad chuckle left her lips before silence settled back.

There was only one thought running in his head after she said that. Did she finally figure out the secret to return back home?

Sakura tilted her head back, and seeing the first drop of rain fall, looked back at the man.

"Good night, Tobirama…" and with that she left in a flurry of sakura blossoms as he opened his mouth.

When she disappeared, he frowned. Hell no. She was not going to leave him there without giving him the chance to explain to her everything that had plagued his mind. Not again. She would listen to him

Needing time to think, Tobirama decided to run to her house instead of transporting there, organizing his thoughts. Madara was right, he needed to talk to her now before she made the decision to go back. Better to have her as long as he could than wonder what could have been. He had to stop her. He did not want her to leave now or ever, for that matter, and she needed to know that.


Back in her house, Sakura was pacing, her mood worsening like the weather outside. The wind was picking up, the rain was pouring, it was storming outside, and in her heart too. A wave of tiredness washed over her and she went to the cupboard, grabbing what she needed for her tea. Boiling some water, she held her cup after a few minutes.

Looking outside, Sakura was sipping on her tea. She did not want to go back to the future. She did not want to, but had the feeling that he did not want her here. That was the part that made her feel frustrated. A knock on her door took her out of her musing. Walking to it, she opened. She almost dropped her teacup when she ended up standing in front of Tobirama, soaking wet, hair plastered on his forehead, breathing hard. Once the surprised passed, Sakura cleared her throat setting the teacup on the counter.

"Tobirama? What are you doing here?"

A chuckle shook his shoulders, and he ran a frustrated hand in his hair.

"You did not leave me any time to explain myself to you and just left. What was I supposed to do? Watch you leave and do nothing, again?" His voice was hard and so were his eyes when they met hers.

"You left without explaining yourself when I woke up, so I thought- I just thought it would be easier for you-" Knowing where she was going with that, he took a step inside the house, making her take a step backward. His eyes, unyielding, never leaving hers.

"Just stop. Please. Stop thinking that you know what I feel, think or what I need." She was about to yell at him, so he placed a finger on her lips. "Everything you said earlier… You were wrong about it all, Sakura." Leaning head back, she frowned, swatting his finger away from her lips.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you know why we found you this fast?" She shook her head. "Because soon after you left the wedding, Madara talked some sense into me and made me realize things… either way. I left to find you, because I had- I needed to talk to you." He paused and exhaled. Sakura never saw him this serious and tensed. "I had to set the record straight with you."

"I am not sure I am following-"

Tobirama groaned and turned his back on her, running a frustrated hand in his white hair again before to face her. He was out of his comfort zone when speaking like this, but he had to do it.

"He made me realize that I made a mistake. Hell, I knew I made the worst mistake the moment I left you that day at the training grounds."

Again, Sakura was not sure she was following. Tobirama who was normally straight forward was just dancing around what he really wanted to say. Exhaustion washed over her again and she rubbed her eyes tiredly.

"Tobirama, I am tired and what you are saying does not make any sense. What are you trying to tell me?" He paused his pacing, and looking in her direction, his eyes softened so much that her heart clenched. He did not talk for a few heartbeats, which made her nervous. Frustration bubbling in her, Sakura pointed her finger in his direction.

"What is it? I swear if this is some kind of-"

"I did not expect to fall in love with you either, Sakura." Like she received a punch in the stomach, Sakura was out of breath. Her eyes snapped up to meet his and she could only see sincerity in their warmth.

"This is what I was going to tell you when you were taken that night." Still digesting what he said, Sakura could not look away. "I just hope that I am not too late-"

Like she had no control over her body, Sakura crossed the distance between them and grabbed his neck.

"Stupid Senju…" She then brought his mouth to hers, taking him by surprise. He loved her. She loved him. Things were finally falling into place. Sakura could not think as happiness and relief flooded her being. She was relieve that he too felt the same way. That for once, what she had was not unrequited love. That, this man, was showing her how he loved her with his actions.

Tobirama shook out of his surprised state and reciprocated the kiss, wrapping his arms around her, bringing her closer to him, not caring about his soaked clothes. All the defenses, all the walls he had taken his life to build around his heart crumbled. Now that she had a place in his heart, he was determined to never let her go. When the kiss became heated and Tobirama kicked the door close behind him.

In a flurry of movement, and tangle of limbs, they made their way to the bedroom, never breaking apart, only doing so when they removed their clothes. The urgency behind all their movements was intoxicating. Her back touched the mattress and his hands on her worked relentlessly, touching every inch of skin available, his lips greedy for more. Tobirama pinned her under him kissing her neck and her breasts. Trailing his fingers down her stomach when she grabbed his hand, stopping him.

Sakura needed him now. After everything, she could not wait. He had made her wait for too long. She had almost died waiting. Seeing how determined he was to take his time, she smirked in the kiss and used a bit of chakra. Twisting them so she was now on top of him, she straddled his hips, her hands pinning his wrists on both sides of his head. He growled at her and she smiled, bending down and nipped his neck, kissed his jaw, before to kiss him fully while grinding her hips on his. His breath uneven, he devoured her with his eyes. She let go of his hands which found her hips, gripping tighter every time she moved against him.

Leaning back, she looked down at him and reaching between their bodies, aligned him with her. She slowly moved down, taking him in, her emeralds never leaving the burning crimson of his eyes. His face contorted and the pure fire in his eyes shook her to her core. She started moving slowly and his hand on her hips squeezed with a bruising force that neither of them cared about. She moved faster, throwing her head back with every wave of pleasure crashing into her.

Tobirama was looking at her, in wonder. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and in some twists of faith, she was his. She loved him. At that thought, he helped her reach the peak by thrusting his hips forward faster. A silent plea left her mouth, and he went harder until she screamed, slumping on his chest.

Smiling, Tobirama flipped them back to their original position, never stopping his movements. Still dazed in the aftermath of the first wave of pleasure, Sakura was sensitive and when he put her leg on his shoulder, nipping her calf, a moan tore through her throat. He kept the same pace and reached between their bodies to help her over the edge for a second time, knowing he would not be able to last much longer. Her face contorted in pleasure, her body was shaking, and she was gripping his back tightly, trying to find an anchor in this sea of fire roaring around them.

Sakura was a mess. The fire burning in her body was getting brighter and brighter until she screamed his name in pure bliss. Taking it from her lips, he found his release moments later. She was his. He was hers. Everything else did not matter.


Moments later, they were in bed together, her head on his chest, his hand in her hair, listening to the storm raging outside. The lightnings painted shadows in the room, magnificent. He did not want to start the conversation like that, but he had to know.

"So you were able to finish your time travel seal?" She pushed up and raised her head enough to be able to see his face.

"No, why are you saying this?" His hand paused in her hair when he frowned.

"Earlier you said that it was only a matter of time before you were going to be back home, I thought that you worked it out…" At the words, a light dimmed in her eyes and fear gripped his heart. She did not speak for a few moments, when she did, her voice was soft, holding some sadness to it. Deciding to skip the part with the nine tails she started to explain.

"I had a memory, more like a very vivid dream when I was held captive. I saw my sensei." At that, Tobirama raised an eyebrow, not understanding. "You saw the seal on my neck?"

"Yes, it's never been there before…" Raising the hair at the base of her neck, his frown deepened when he realized that it was not there anymore. "What-"

"My friend Naruto placed it there. It is the reason why I was sent here in the first place."

"But why is it so relevant to anything else?"

"It would tell me when to do what I needed to do, which was to eliminate this creature that you saw in the cave." She left the part of saving the man who died in the past of her future out of the conversation since it was irrelevant. "So this seal is responsible for my being here. Once the work I had to accomplish is done, the seal would slowly fade away, thus, sending me back home…"

Understanding dawned on Tobirama and she felt his breath hitch in his throat.

"How long do we have?"

The question that Sakura was not ready to answer yet, but had to. Bracing herself she sighed.

"I don't know. I was told maybe a week, a month, a year…. Nothing is certain." Meeting his eyes, she continued. "I think that we might want to work on something to counteract the effects of this seal so I could stay here…"

Tobirama stilled and stayed silent for a moment and breathed out. The words had struck something deep within him.

"You would really leave everything behind to stay here? With me? You don't have to take a rash decision…"

Hearing how unsure he was, Sakura raised her head, searching his eyes for a moment.

"It would not be a rash decision. I was thinking about it for a while."

How long could she have possibly thought about this? They had started to get closer only recently.

"Since when?" He frowned slightly.

She chuckled, tracing the markings on his face. "I started to think about staying even before my birthday. Remember that day you asked me out?"

Tobirama nodded and froze, staring at her.

"Really? Why so early on?"

"I felt like I made more of a difference in a few months here than I did during my whole life back there. And it is also when I started to have interesting thoughts about you…"

At that, Tobirama laughed and closed his arms around her, bringing her closer to him and planting a kiss on her forehead. She wanted to stay. His heart leaped in his chest. They would have to work on something to make her stay, which could be hard since they had no clue of the seal her friend had used… His thoughts were stopped when she spoked.

"I don't want to go back Tobirama." She breathed those words with such sadness that his heart clenched. He sat on the bed and grabbed her face.

"I do not want you to go back either. We will find a way." Pulling her close, he kissed her slowly and softly. "If it doesn't work-"

Putting his forehead on hers, Tobirama looked into her eyes and she could not breathe when she saw the raw emotions displayed in his crimson orbs. His vulnerability in this moment was the most amazing thing she could have ever asked for. He rephrased.

"No matter what happen, Sakura, you can have me. All of me. I will take everything I can and give you everything I have. If you want it it's yours, all of it. I do not care if you could leave tomorrow, in a week or a month, we will find a way. I want to cherish every moment that is given to us, for if you leave, those will be the most precious memories."

Tears filled her eyes at the declaration. Never in her life had she imagined that she would mean so much for someone. Understanding his reasoning, Sakura nodded. Yes. They would make the most of their time together.

Realizing that with everything that had happened tonight, he never apologized to her Tobirama brushed the tip of his fingers on the smooth skin of Sakura's back. The feeling was so calming that she almost purred.

"I am sorry." Sakura looked up at him, questioning. "For the way I treated you that day. It was hard enough for you to tell the truth to someone; you did not need me to act the way I did. I should have been there to help you, instead, I made you miserable."

Still staring at him, Sakura stayed silent for a few seconds. Her eyes did not betray any thoughts.

"But you were right, I should have been honest since the beginning." With that said, she settled on his chest while his fingers grazed her back softly. A chuckle rumbled in his chest and she raised her eyes, wondering what caused his hilarity.

"So what is your full name, kunoichi. It would seem like I am the only one out of the loop…" The glint of amusement in his eyes made her laugh. Remembering the way he asked her who she was the first time they met, Sakura smiled and shoved his shoulder playfully.

"So Mito did not tell you anything?" He shook his head and the young medic laughed. This was Mito alright. "Sakura Haruno." She smiled at him. He hummed sleepily against her hair and tightened his grip. She gently continued to traced the lines of his face, his cheekbone.

"We will find a way." He said this in a sleepy voice and soon after, fell asleep, and so did she.