Note: Alright, there are only a few chapter left before the end, bear with me! Sorry if it is short and simple, I did not have much inspiration for that one.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.


Chapter 34

Sakura had woken up an hour before he did. She had watched him sleep, love shining in her eyes. Everything ended up falling into place after all, didn't it? His large intake of air alerted her that he was about to wake up.

When he did, there was no stress, no anger, nothing. Only peace in his mind. The pitter patter of the rain on the window was soothing and when Tobirama opened his eyes, he was met with pure emerald watching him. She was lying on her side, and her fingertips found his face, tracing his jawline softly. Smiling, he grabbed her hand and kissed it.

They had been through so much in the past months that it felt strange to wake up, not having to much to worry about. Other than finding a way to make her stay. But that being said, they could work on this later. Right now, they would enjoy the morning. Enjoy her being alive, and them being together. They had come so close to not being able to do this that he wanted to soak up every small moments like those when he could.

So they spend most of the morning in bed, talking, playfighting, kissing... They talked about their future, about everything they could do together.

When noon approached, they were out of the house, walking in the village together. The villagers looked happy to see them both and some of them stopped her to tell her how relieved they were to see her well. She felt appreciated.

Sometimes during their walk, they bumped into Mito, and the only way for them to be able to continue their peaceful day together was to promise to the redhead that they would come over for dinner.


They made their way to the compound early, sitting in the library and exchanging ideas on how they could make her stay. When the outline of their plan was done, Tobirama grabbed her hand and brought her in the garden for a walk when the rain paused.

Seeing the tree where they had exchanged their first kiss, she smiled and jumped on the branch, patting the space next to her. A surprised yelp escaped her when he jumped and sat right behind her, allowing her to lean on his chest. Funny how life changed since the last time they sat here. Back then, he did not know her secret and was not aware that her feelings for him were deeper than a simple infatuation.

She felt him move behind her and did not react, thinking he only tried to adjust their position to be more comfortable, but soon, his hands were on each side of her face and she gasped taking in the sight of what he was holding in front of her.

He was holding her necklace, the one he had given her on her birthday. She had forgotten about it, the way it broke when she had been kidnapped. He had it repaired.

Not waiting for any words from her, he attached the necklace and once he was done, dragged the tip of his finger on her collarbone. A shiver ran down her spine at the feather light touch. Sakura smiled, touching the familiar stone and turned her head to face him.

He did no know that it meant this much to her, but when her eyes met his, everything around them ceased to exist. He welcomed her kiss with open arms and hugged her body closer, tilting her head to gain a better access to her mouth.

Sakura sighed in happiness and when he leaned back, she grabbed his face tenderly. The meaning behind him giving her the necklace back on the tree where everything started was not lost on her. He was maybe a man of few words sometimes, but everything he did had a meaning.

"Thank you."

Placing a strand of hair behind her ear, he nodded. Soon after, he helped her down the tree and they made their way to the dining room where all of their friends waited for them.


As soon as she entered the dining room, Hashirama smiled to her. She was glowing. And so was his brother.

"Sakura! I take it that my brother took care of you-"

Madara had hit the back of Hashirama's head, knowing what his friend had wanted to say. Meeting Sakura's eyes with his onyx, he gave her a small smile.

"Glad to see you feeling better, Sakura."

Izuna who was sitting near Ama stood on his feet, looking at his brother with a frown, exasperated. Throwing his hands in the air, the young Uchiha rolled his eyes.

"She almost died and this is the only thing you say to her?!" Izuna crossed the room and gave her a bone crushing hug. "I am so happy to see you!"

Sakura laughed and squeezed the man's shoulder.

"Thank you. I am happy to see you too."

That being said, Sakura and Tobirama made their way to the table and sat next to each other. Tobirama grabbed her hand under the table and she looked at him, eyes shining brightly. Thinking about their night and morning, her eyes darkened and Tobirama's jaw clenched, knowing her train of thoughts. No matter how many people were around them, they were in their own world. Madara, who saw everything, tried to repress a shudder and huffed at them.

"Sakura, stop looking at him like that, it is… indecent."

Tobirama, still looking intensely at Sakura smirked and without looking at Madara, sent a jab his way.

"Don't think I forgot how Kaiya looked at you that day…"

Madara froze. He had tried to make his going to the hospital to see her as subtle as possible and this one look they shared during Sakura's surgery was enough for Tobirama to figure out that they shared a connection?

As to answer his question, Tobirama stopped looking into Sakura's eyes and sent a knowing look his way. He knew.

"I… It is none of your concern." Madara was slightly flustered.

Now everyone in the room was staring at the Uchiha leader. Even his own brother.

"Oh really? Kaiya. Interesting…" Hashirama's honey sweet voice and his damn smirk made Madara cringe.

Sakura, remembering what his captor had said about Madara always being to the hospital sent him a winning stare, like she knew it all.

"This is why you came to the hospital so often!" Her voice made Madara sit straighter. She searched his eyes for something.

The man did not know if she was about to hit him or just congratulate him for having feelings. It was scary. The Uchiha leader's face reddened slightly, though no one knew if it was because he was flustered or just angry. Sakura, who knew the man quite well knew it was the first option when he finally met her stare dead on.

"Sakura, I think I liked you better when you couldn't talk." His clipped voice was priceless. He had been caught.

Sakura brought a hand on her heart in mock hurt and laughed. People around her continued their banter and sitting back she sighed. This. She wanted to stay here for this. At that thought, light dimmed in her eyes and she looked at Tobirama, who picked up on her change of mood.

The man squeezed her hand and at that, their friends stopped talking, witnessing the silent exchange between the two. Sakura looked around and seeing all the attention on her, she cleared her throat.

"There is a subject that I think we need to talk about."

All eyes were on her and she proceeded to tell them everything about the seal and it fading. Tobirama told them that on his side, he was working to find a way to be able to keep her in their time. He told them that, since he did not know which seal had been used by her friend, he was thinking about a reverse time travel seal. Roughly put, she would go back in her time whenever that was and use this seal they would create to get back in the past. Mito agreed that it would be the safest way to proceed, since altering the seal on her neck without knowing which one it was could be more dangerous than the reverse time travel.

The conversation went on and on and Sakura could not fight the warm feeling in her chest when she saw her friends, working so hard to find a way to get her back to them… Towards the end of the dinner, Madara came to her and grabbed both of her shoulders.

"I am glad you are feeling better… and that things worked out between the two of you." His gaze slid to Tobirama who was clasping Izuna's shoulder, talking a little farther in the room.

A small smile found Sakura's lips. "I heard I have to thank you for that so… Thank you." Her voice was soft and the glance she sent Tobirama was even softer. Bringing her attention back to him, she whispered, getting closer to him. "My Kaiya, really?"

Madara's lips pinched in a thin line and seeing the warmth in her eyes, he shook his head chuckling. He could not keep this from her and he knew it.

"Yes." This small word held so much hope, so many emotions that she did not doubt the fact that he would treat the young lady well.

Sakura gave the man a quick hug and when she took a step back, tears shone in her eyes.

"If she makes you happy, that is all that matters to me, Madara."

Nodding, the man smirked as he ruffled her hair, still feeling strange when she was crying. Izuna and Madara then left the compound. Sakura watched him leave, a smile gracing her face. Yes. She had worked hard for this village, but seeing the man happy like that and not mad like he had been in her time was worth every cuts and bruises she had gotten.

Tobirama startled her when he wrapped his arm around her from behind. He too had seen the way the Uchiha leader's eyes brightened when he and Sakura talked about Kaiya. Years ago, he would have thought that it was a ruse from the man or something not genuine, but now, he knew better. Without Madara's insight, he would not be able to hold Sakura. Without Madara, Sakura would have never been sent to the past. To him. At that thought, he bent down and kissed her neck. Sakura turned her head and when their eyes met, he forgot how to breathe. Yes. He owed the man so much.


After dinner, everybody retired and Tobirama brought her to his room. They were drinking tea on the step leading to the garden from his room. He was reading through some scrolls and she observed him for a moment.

The way the candlelight was shining on his face and gave it a warm glow. How his eyes were focus on the information he was reading… Distracted, he reached for her face and caressed her cheek before to note something down. His eyes lost their focus and he grabbed his chin, like he was thinking through some details and continued to write. She loved to see his brain in action. There was something attractive to him when he was focusing on a complicated puzzled. She liked it.

The brush stopped moving, and looking at her he smiled. Gathering his documents, he got on his feet, brought everything to his desk and sat back with her. Enough work for tonight.

For a moment, the sound of the rain in the courtyard was the only thing to be heard. She inhaled deeply, enjoying the smell of the summer rain mixed with his peculiar scent that she adored. When she opened her eyes, he was smiling at her.

He cupped her cheek and she leant in his touch when he kissed her softly, his fingers like feathers on the skin of her jaw. He broke the kiss and tucked her on his side, his hand brushing on her hips. Her head found his shoulder and they stayed in each other's company, gazing at the garden, quiet together.


Days passed without anything changing, Tobirama and Sakura worked on the seal that she would bring with her the future in order to return to him. They studied scrolls and exchanged theories every nights during long hours.

During the day, Sakura was letting Ama work at the hospital while she enjoyed her time with the man she loved. It gave the apprentice more experience and was teaching her how to lead the staff. Sakura trusted her apprentice with everything and knew that if something major was happening, someone would come and get her.

Tobirama was not required at the office that often since Hashirama realized how important his work with Sakura could be. They were now rarely disturbed.


That morning, a few weeks after her kidnapping, she woke up, her body tangled with Tobirama's. Their morning was soft and perfect, they ate and had tea, talking about seals and time travel, everyday getting closer to finding a way to make it work.

Tobirama had been a little distant, but she knew that it was because he pondered every single way that the technique could fail only to find a better option with less risks. This morning was not any different. He was a little distracted and during their conversation, sighed heavily. Seeing the glint of frustration forming in Tobirama's eyes, she smiled.

"Perhaps you need another perspective?"

Taken out of his thoughts, he looked up at her, his mind going over what she just said.

"A what… Oh." Remembering how he brought her to spar to the river when she had been preoccupied with her nightmare, he smiled.

Extending her hand to him, she wiggled her fingers.

"Come on."

When he grabbed her hand she pulled him behind her, getting out of the house. Laughing, Tobirama grabbed her waist, transporting them to the river instead of walking. When they appeared next to the running water, she laid a palm flat on his chest and steadied herself.

"You do it on purpose, don't you?"

For a moment, he looked down at her. Tilting his head to the side, he gave her a stern expression.

"Don't think I forgot how you used my technique in that cavern, Sakura."

The way he said her name made her body shiver in anticipation. She gave him a sheepish smile and shrugged her shoulders innocently.

"Guilty as charged…"

He was really curious to see the extent of her knowledge of jutsu since he never really knew what she could do, other than taijutsu and her medical skills. Now that he knew where she was from, he was certain that she had more than a trick up her sleeve. His crimson eyes met her emeralds and he smiled at her.

"Show me what you can do…"

Walking to him with a predatory smirk on her face, Sakura stopped when her body was barely touching his. Tracing a pattern on his chest with her index innocently, she met his eyes dead on, raising on the tip of her toes. When she spoke, her lips brushed against his.

"You know what I can do…"

Taking a step back, she saw the line of his jaw hardened and he clenched his fists, breathing in deeply. The burning fire in his eyes made warmth pool in her core. Yes. Indeed, he knew. He also knew what she could do with that wicked mouth of hers.

The charm was broken when she chuckled, taking in his facial expression.

Tobirama shook his head, chasing pleasant thoughts away. He threw a kunai at her and when it hit its mark and his eyes widened. Did he- then she poofed away, a log taking her place. She had used a substitution jutsu. A smile stretched his lips. The thrill of the chase roared in his veins and could not wait to catch her to show her what he could do.

They sparred for a few hours, her showing him the extent of her knowledge and techniques, and him, reacting to them, thinking about how to get her back for the teasing. The moment he caught her in the water, his arms wrapping around her, their lips found each other.

Tobirama repaid her by thoroughly worshipping her body on the riverbank under the sun.

From then on, the happiness they shared was pure and unbridled.


A week later, Tobirama was waiting for her in her office when she opened the door. Startled she grunted and threw a pen at him, which he caught easily, this perfect smile on his face. She looked at him and her own smile betrayed the fact that she was not really upset. Getting up, he walked around the desk and grabbed her face, leaving a warm kiss on her lips. Sakura smiled and shook her head, laughing.

"What are you doing here?" He took a step back and grabbed her hand.

"Hashirama wants us to go on a mission together. I am here to get you to the office so he can tell us about the assignment." She nodded in approval and wrapped her arms around his neck, her mouth a breath away from his.

"I am ready." Smiling, he did his hand signs and in a second they were standing in front of Hashirama and Madara.


The Senju leader and the Uchiha leader had a map in front of them and when they appeared, both looked up for a moment before Hashirama rummaged through a pile of papers. Finally finding what he needed, he handed them a scroll.

"I want you two to get this scroll to the village on the border of this river-" Pointing the location on the map, Hashirama raised his head. "and bring back the answer. It is nothing of great importance. Only a scroll asking if they would mind having shinobi patrolling their land sometimes for safety."

Sakura opened the scroll and read through it. Nothing complicated indeed! More time for her to spend with Tobirama.

"How long do we have to accomplish this?"

Hashirama smirked. "Normally with my brother's speed it would be doable in four days, but considering your situation, I can give you a eight." Wiggling his eyebrow, Hashirama yelped when Sakura slapped the back of his head. "Hey! If you don't want it, I can give it to someone else!"

Sakura was about to slap Hashirama's head again, but Tobirama grabbed her wrist, laughing deeply, and looked at his brother and Madara, amused.

"We are taking it. We will leave in an hour." And with that they disappeared from the office.

Madara slowly turned to face his friend.

"Did-… Did your brother just laughed?" Hashirama who was still sulking, rubbing the back of his head, stopped what he was doing for a moment, eyes wide.

"He did." Both friends looked at each other, flabbergasted.

His brother was happy. Really happy. Of course, he already knew that since Sakura was amazing, but hearing him laugh that way… The last time it happened, he was more than certain that they had been kids… Sakura was a miracle worker after all.