Haruno Sakura was extremely annoyed.
One would certainly easily come to that conclusion by merely observing her surroundings with an impassive glance. Even if it was a thick headed and downright block headed civilian. She was certainly not one to be messed with at this moment. Clenching her fists, she let out a cry as she pummeled it into a stone dummy, effectively shattering it into little pieces that flung everywhere. One particular little speck flew right at her eye.
Growling she drew back and blinked quickly, trying to get the piece out. She succeeded, but it left her left eye sore, red and watery. And that served to anger her even more. Letting out a frustrated yell she once again readied her fist, this time to make contact with her ground, but a voice stopped her actions.
The pinkette bothered not to turn around, as she recognized that voice well.
"Shikamaru Kun."
The prodigy gave a cursory glance at the place where once was a training ground, now completely demolished beyond recognition. It was her personal training ground, bestowed to her by the fifth Hokage, her mentor as a gift for making it into Jounin ranks and it had remained with her ever since. He recalled she used to come here to usually either meditate or just stare ahead with a melancholy look in her eyes, as she remembered the once happy times.
There was hardly any relaxing to do here now, without being properly mended by earth chakra shinobi. The ANBU captain tried not to waver as the Hokage's apprentice turned to glare at him, feeling slightly uneasy on the inside. This was of course Haruno Sakura. One who angers her rarely escaped without being properly punished.
"Hokage Sama requested you to go to her office."
Anger flared in her eyes once more and he swore chakra was actually encircling her. Shikamaru responds by taking a careful step back.
"If it's about the request made by the Konoha Elders, go in my place and inform them I reject it and would continue doing so!"
A slight frown marring his face, he allows himself a resigned sigh before saying, "You and I both know that's inappropriate. Whether I like it or not you're still-'
"SHUT UP AND LEAVE!"
Shikamaru is quick to obey. And he was sure at this state she had the potential to assault him in a fit of rage; she had once so done to her own temporary ANBU teammate in a fit and nearly killed him. After all the training in the past five years she had done in the organization, he would surely be at a disadvantage.
But just as he was sure she was going to explode in a fit of anger, she stuns him by letting herself fall into the seiza position. Shikamaru wasn't sure how long he stood watching her -he was too wary to approach her and too worried to leave her behind in such a defeated state but the second she erupts into tears he promptly turns his face away with a wince.
'...C'mon Sakura...you know I'm not good with tears...' His plea falls on deaf ears.
And she wails.
Five full years had passed since the war had ended. Five full years since the three most precious people to her ...to him...were snatched by the cruel hands of destiny. The sole member of team seven she was now. The long war ended peacefully, with the sacrifice of the three shinobi she loved so much; each without fulfilling their dreams.
Naruto died as the greatest hero of the Shinobi world. He was and still is honored by all in the Shinobi World. His statue stands in the midst of Konoha, tall, golden and proud as he holds the symbol of the will of fire in one hand, with the Rasengan, his ultimate jutsu which he used to finish the war in the other. His legacy spread far and wide, each generation would surely be taught of the great Uzumaki Naruto, who rose from becoming hated to the greatest person in history.
The Kyuubi host sacrificed himself for the safety of everyone, without achieving his dream to become Hokage. His lifelong dream which he once had vowed to accomplish nearly every half an hour, had worked for so long was shattered completely. He died with a smile even then, Sakura cradling him, screaming and unwilling for anyone but Hinata to approach them until someone finally dragged her away and sedated her.
Uchiha Sasuke.
Shikamaru was not sure what happened to her other teammate. From what reports he had searched through and gossips he had heard, he had come to a conclusion that the last Uchiha too, died in the war; the first of the team seven to perish. Sakura and Kakashi were supposedly present when he lay to rest. But the copy nin was no more and Sakura would not speak about how she dealt with what happened back there. What mattered was, she said, that their graves were in Konoha where they belonged.
Home.
Witnessing all three of her teammates get killed in front of her eyes, and her inability to do anything to save them yet again, the fifth Hokage's apprentice had nearly gone insane with the guilt and sorrow. She spent nearly half an year under direct supervision of Tsunade, until one day, the girl came out in open. They thought she had recovered. They were far from the truth.
Blaming herself for the death of team seven, Haruno Sakura had allowed most of her emotions to be locked up in order to prevent them from getting into the way of duty ever again. It allowed her to steadily gain ranks and gain widespread approval for her abilities. Her lack of emotional response made her an ideal assassin and that's what she was until last year when she resigned to focus on trainee ANBU students instead.
She was not the Sakura they played with years ago. That Sakura was an extremely emotional girl who connected with others empathetically -a trait which shinobi were not supposed to have. But it was the one trait that held up the morale of the entire alliance during the war.
It was her steadfastness and strong belief that had everyone shred away all doubt they harbored against Naruto during his battle against Madara.
She surpassed Tsunade herself long ago, right in the battlefield -mastering the yin seal upon the forehead right when everyone had assumed she was completely exhausted of chakra. In the middle of the war nonetheless.
But they had failed.
The war was won, but the three of the heros fell. And so did her radiant smile.
He knew that she couldn't express her emotions properly anymore -courtesy of Hatake Kakashi's influence he was sure.
"Shit..." She finally stood up, rubbing one eye with the back of her hand. "...I'm off to the dango shop. I hope they have my favorite there. Shika, you are welcome to accompany me if you'd like."
As if she had never had a breakdown to begin with.
Her inability to face herself was probably going to bite her in the rear sooner or later.
He stood quietly as the ANBU captain calmly walked past him, waiting until he was sure that she was leaving to reach out for her wrist. He sighed inwardly as she scowled, knowing what was coming and braced himself to face her wrath.
"Nara...I am NOT going to the meeting and you can't make me. Don't make me break your arm."
"I can't make you go there Sakura." Shikamaru rebuts with an impatient scowl, "But Tsunade Sama will be upset should you not turn up again, don't you think? The elders will turn their wrath on her and she won't say anything to you but...' With a deep inhale, he decides to pull his trump card out, 'You know as well I that she's getting too ill to handle stress off this caliber. Would you really have her shoulder that again?'
"...You're an asshole Shikamaru.'
Following the death of her teammates, Sakura became one to skip around and often times show blatant disregard for hard rules and protocol...but only so long as it didn't directly upset or implicateher mentor. Tsunade was the only family she had left and Sakura would be damned if she inconvenienced her in any way.
"... you owe me three Ichiraku vouchers." She says finally and Shikamaru feels his shoulders slump in relief.
Thank fucking God.
"Hey, so long as it gets you to do your damn job I'll be happy to buy you a months worth."
"Careful I just might take you up on that offer." She snorts softly in response, stuffing both hands into the pockets. Shikamaru just laughs.
Something unspoken passes between the two lifelong friends then and they walk alongside, towards their destination. "OH!" Her sudden quip makes him jolt, "Have you proposed to Temari yet?'
"Holy shit Sakura! Say it a bit louder why don't you?" Sakura can't help but grin when her friend glances around worriedly. "And while you're at it, announce it on the rooftops of Konoha." He adds with a hiss when he spots one of Temari's friends near Ino's flowershop.
"I take it you haven't. Look if you keep chickening out she's just going to propose to you. And we both know that takes the fun out of seeing you suffer."
"Troublesome woman..."
He watches her lips tug upwards with a mischievous smile. Despite his irritation, Shikamaru feels glad that he could temporarily alleviate her worries with meandering everyday topics. It was the least he could do. The Konoha elders were after all, really troublesome old meddling hags.
"Don't worry. I'll send you a personal invite to the actual proposal." He stops when they reach the foot of the building. "Don't worry Sakura. I'm sure it'll go without too much of a drag."
He was wrong.
"I said I refuse! Have I not iterated it over countless times already? YOU OLD BAT."
"Old ba- NOW LISTEN HERE YOU-'"
"Now, now Koharu."
Koharu Utatane narrows her eyes as her partner, Homaru stands to make his point. She glares then back at the ANBU captain sitting in front of them. A pout gracing her cupid bow lips she sits half sprawled over the sofa, both arms swung loosely over the headrest.
Tsunade chuckles wearily.
It simultaneously reminded her of both Naruto and her 'younger' self.
Gods she was strong then.
Losing her teammates, Sakura had chosen ALL of the worst possible traits out of all three to adopt. Arguably the worst being her petty disregard for authority [which she supposed wasn't very unlike herself].
...Perhaps she was half to blame for her attitude problem?
"Old crows," Sakura grumbles again. "Smells like old people soap in here. I want to leave. Dammit."
Koharu wasn't sure how long she could keep her composure. And Tsunade was finding it increasingly difficult to feign disapproval.
She was definitely to blame for this.
"I thought you were more mature than this, Sakura." Homaru's tone belittles her and they all could could see the girl wasn't taking it well, "Konoha needs a mature, sensible leader. We would've chosen Hatake...and there are many candidates we could choose-'
"But we deem it to be the best course of action for the pupil of the fifth to take up the mantle." Koharu impatiently finishes for her partner, "The position of the Hokage has always been indirectly passed down from teacher to student and we dont wish that to change anytime soon. You cannot refuse."
"I can and I will. I will not accept this post. Shisou is still able to continue for a long time." Sakura spares an apologetic frown at her mentor. Tsunades gaze is anything but disapproval -more than anything she felt helpless being unable to help her student any further. The weeks of back and forth with the council didn't leave Tsunade much room to catch up on her sleep and Sakura could see it was wearing her down.
Assholes.
But as apologetic she felt for her mentor...
"I will not accept the post of Hokage. That is my final decision."
Sakura would not, under any circumstances accept that position. She did not deserve it. She was not worthy of being labeled as the Fire Shadow -not after all her failures listed under her belt.
The name was only bestowed on the greatest shinobi of Konoha, the ultimate heroes who were willing to sacrifice anything and everything to ensure their village stayed safe from any harm. And all who were worthy of that title were now either deceased or retired with severe afflictions
Naruto should be sitting her, She thinks bitterly, This is Naruto's place. Not mine.
"Naruto has been dead for 5 years. You cannot be dwelling on it for that long!" Koharu finally snaps, "Besides! I hardly think accepting the post of Hokage will be unjust to him! He'd be happy you became the Konoha's protector!"
It took all in Sakura's willpower not to physically assault the 77 year old wretch in front of her. How dare she disrespect Naruto? After all he had done to ensure their safety, the council of Konoha would not even consider how unhappy he would be. Naruto wasn't dead. He was alive. His presence was still with them. He would never die and none of the Konoha 11 would allow it.
She knew Koharu and Homaru were merely looking out for Konoha's best. But if she were to accept the role of being Hokage, that would mean hurting Naruto. He was the one in their team who was destined for it. He wouldn't be as upset if the one to be Hokage were to be selected from someone else from the original Konoha 11.
"It doesn't have to be me. Shikamaru would make a wonderful Hokage. Better than me." Sakura stated and then in an almost afterthought, adds. "There is Gai..if you're looking for someone with more experience."
"Shikamaru is not suited for the job. He has been in despair since his father was killed in the war and you know he will not accept the post of Hokage. And Gai...I refuse to even entertain that idea." Koharu already began to feel the stirrings of another headache and she leaned back, rubbing the sides of her temple. Why was this Kunoichi so stubborn?
"I don't care." Sakura turned her head around with a scowl and crossed her hands over her chest, itching to leave a mark on both of their faces. Disrespecting Naruto was one thing; insulting the one who vowed to stand by him in all forms of danger was just going one step further.
"DON'T BE SO IMPRUDENT!" Homaru nearly yelled, turning red in the face with anger. She began to wish that his high blood pressure would work its way right now and give him a sudden stroke thus, ending this whole annoying procedure. "YOU DO REALIZE YOUR ACTIONS ARE OF UTMOST DISGRACE RIGHT NOW, TURNING DOWN A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY THAT WOULD VERY WELL PLACE THE CITIZENS OF KONOHA IN WELL POSITION!"
"She is very stubborn." Tsunade chuckled, opening her mouth for the first time. The slug princess was sure her student would stay strong in her choice, like her departed teammate. Eventually they would have to give up in trying to convince her. That or Sakura would leave Konoha for good. The Kazekage had already assured Sakura that he would provide her with residence within Suna for as long as she wished.
As much as she didn't want Sakura to do something like this against her will, she didn't want her to just run away from the problem.
Tsunade had something in mind but she was unsure of whether to trust Sakura with it. It had been troubling her for a while now and she had spent that last week trying to think it through. She didn't have much time before her pupil would finally snap and defect Konoha.
Her pupil glanced her way with an unreadable expression and Tsunade knew she noted something was off with her. 'Can't blame her...I don't know what I'm thinking myself...' She thought with a sigh.
"Sakura Haruno, I will ask you again. Will you accept the post of becoming Hokage?"
"No." She said bluntly, observing her fingernails. "Shoot..." She muttered under her breath and started playing with her thumb, trying to pull off a hangnail. Her carefree actions served to make the two even more riled up.
"LITTLE GIRL YOU ARE TESTING MY PATIENCE WITH YOUR RUDE BEHAVIOR!"
They all clearly heard the noisy croaks of crows as they fluttered away. Silence was followed by Tsunade's heavy laughter and Sakura's smirk, much to their chagrin.
Two tired girls trudged along the busy streets of Konoha wearily, one holding a bag in her hand. They had been searching for their friend for a long time and they had almost roamed around the village twice since the morning.
Upon meeting Konohamaru, their friends' current student, they learned that Sakura was in a meeting with the two elders regarding the ongoing issue of who would be the next Hokage. Apparently it would take a while before it was over; it would end sooner should she choose to jump out of the window once more like she did the last time.
"Hey Hinata, do you think she'll be okay?" Ino asked softly, rubbing the back of her head as she glanced at the Hokage's mansion with worried eyes. "That's the second one this week."
The Hyuga Heiress shook her head, stopping beside her friend and peered into the bag in her hands. She had made them this morning after craving something sweet and decided to make some extra ones for Sakura who had an incurable sweet tooth and an obsession for dango. Unfortunately it seemed that she would be unable to gift them to her any time sooner because of this.
"I doubt it. The elders love pushing people to the limits." Hinata sighed. "I can only hope that Sakura is alright."
"I don't get it though." Ino muttered as she started walking again, crossing her hands across her chest. "Why can't Sakura accept the post of Hokage? She is perfectly suited to the position and all! Besides, Naruto would be so happy-!"
Hinata only gave half an ear to the ranting blond girl, knowing well that she did not fully understand what her best friend was currently going through. Though Ino was a good friend, she had problems understanding other people well and had yet to fully comprehend why Sakura was being the way she was.
Or perhaps...she knew why.
Maybe that was the entire problem in itself.
To both of them, Sakura's refusal to move on was extremely worrying. Even though she was nursing her broken heart from Naruto's demise, she still made an attempt to reconnect with her friends. Sakura on the other hand, wouldn't even step close to letting it pass.
But it was somewhat understandable.
Unlike them, she grew up with Naruto. She channeled all her energy into replenishing his body and chakra through the battle and still failed-
Her heart clenched.
"We should head to her training grounds." Hinata interrupted her loud companion and her own depressing thoughts, clutching the bag tighter to herself. "She is often goes there when she is troubled and seeing that it is the only place we haven't checked so far; waiting there would be the best thing to do."
Blinking owlishly, Ino nodded at the reasoning and followed the more composed girl towards the grounds. Sakura often frequented her personal training area and Ichiraku ramen and Hinata often interrupted Sakura beating the daylights out of her students in the former place (she called it 'training') and more than often saved them out of her unforgiving hands.
Many ANBU and Jounin rookies often approached her for tips and pointers for their training but only a few dared to ask her to become their sensei. She never said no to anyone and often started their training the very day they asked her. However, because of her extreme training methods, many thanked her and fled right after the first day and those who day would resign a few days later.
The only student who stuck it all out and stayed with her was Konohamaru. He asked her two years ago and since then, had shown remarkable improvement in all fields and was steadily improving himself day by day. He was by far the only one Hinata knows to have survived Sakura's wrath more than once and for that, she was greatly impressed.
Not everyone would be willing to stand on top of an icy mountain, soaked from head to toe wearing only underwear as part of endurance training.
Such determination was because he had vowed to catch up to Naruto nii-san and to become Hokage in his stead. Sakura was proud of him and she knew that Naruto be too, would be should he be living.
So, when Hinata approached the training grounds, she was expecting to see an empty ground, Sakura throttling a random shinobi or her taking her frustration out on a stone dummy – anything except a piece of land cut out from a war zone and pasted over the area.
"Hey Hinata," Ino laughed nervously as she shook a frozen Hyuga Heiress whose eyes were fixed to the unrecognizable piece of land. "Can you pinch me or something? Am I dreaming...? The war got over right? RIGHT?"
"...right." Hinata answered dumbly, still focused on the land. "Five years ago...I think?"
"Okay so..." She motions to the scene of utter carnage, "Explain this."
"...no."
"Hinata? Ino? What are you doing here?" They both whip their heads around to see a [unnervingly] calm Haruno Sakura clad in muddy ANBU gear. Her lazy eyes light up in delight when she sees the package in Hinatas hands. "Whassdis?"
The shy girl is quick to push it into her friends hands. "I-It's Mitarashi Dango! It's for you." She stammers, "You look hungry so I...uhm..."
"Thank youuuu Hinata!" Sakura laughs boisterously, "I have not eaten since I returned from the mission yesterday."
She must have been telling the truth because Sakura wastes no time to scarf it down. Worry began to inundate her as she finally realized how thin and pale her friend looked, growing more so as she grins gratefully at her friend.
"It is very good. Thank you!" A pause, "You wouldn't happen to have more?'
Hinata wished she did.
"You're so cold, Sakura-chan." Hinata says softly, taking her hand. "You haven't been taking care of yourself again."
"...Force of habit."
Ino places a hand on her best friend's shoulder, her brows drawn together in worry. "How did the meeting go?" She asks.
"Terrible." Comes her answer.
They expected as much anyway.
"They are forcing me to accept the post of being Hokage. Apparently they would announce it by tomorrow." She announces unenergetically, licking her fingers clean of any sauce. "...Give me the recipe for this one by the way. Its really good." She says casually.
She was really starting to worry them.
'What should we do?' Ino silently spares a glance at Hinata who just stares back worriedly.
"They can't force you to become hokage...can they?'
"If they did to Tsunade-Shisou..." Sakura trails off softly. Sticking a dango stick between her teeth, she starts lolling it in circles as a thoughtful expression crosses her face. "I don't have a choice." She mutters.
"Oi Sakura..."
"Can you cover for me? Three days."
"Eh?!' Hinata blinks in shock -moreso when Ino is quick to follow up with a casual, "Sure!"
"Take some days off. I'll tell them you went to a spa!" Ino adds cheerfully. "Or something."
"I owe you one."
Three was the least number of days it took for a shinobi to travel to Suna on foot without stopping. She was going to leave tonight and become a missing nin. Their friend was leaving Konoha.
"Sakura chan..." Hinata attempts to try dissuading her; but the rest words refused to escape. How could she ask her tormented friend to stay here when the situation had escalated to such limits? And though it was true she would miss her -miss the last memory she had connecting to Naruto - there was nothing else she nor anyone else could do.
Sakura needed her friends. And Hinata wanted to be there as best as she could.
So with a forced smile, she loops her hand through Sakura's arm and suggests a meal at Ichirakus. "My treat," She says, "As many bowls as you'd like."
"For real?" Sakura laughs. "I might just eat through your wallet Hinata."
"It'll be some time before you get to eat it again. Let's make a meal out of it." Her grasp tightens around her friends arm as the rest of the words go unsaid.
It's what Naruto would want.
To Sakura's internal surprise and joy, her star student (only student for now) was present there as well waiting for his ramen, tucked away in a corner with a book. Upon closer inspection, revealed it to be the book she told him to study for an verbal exam she would give him next week. He was such a diligent boy now wasn't he?
"Konohamaru, are you still studying?" She felt the corners of her lips turn up as she approached him, "I told you to take a break now and then didn't I?"
He stood up and bowed in respect before shooting her a cheeky grin. "I took one this morning by allowing myself to sleep in. Also, I was just beginning to understand this stuff. It's pretty interesting!"
And so, he ended up joining them.
She had nearly forgotten how noisy Ino was and was grateful that the blonde was chattering away happily about her own little world; complaining about her lazy boyfriend. The girl could very well somehow take anyone's mind off important things in a matter of seconds; double that with Konohamaru's snide remarks and Hinata's gentle coaxing to calm the both of them before their table attracted too much attention.
Before she knew it, the orange rays signaled that the sun was setting and that the day was ending. And it made her regret every time she turned down Ino's invitations to a girls day out.
"Hey sensei," Konohamaru leaned forward towards the table, an excited grin on his face as he finally noticed the sun going down. "Wanna go to the bar tonight with just the two of us? I want to have a drinking contest with you again!"
"You are underage you little prick." Sakura smiled, flicking a finger against his forehead playfully. "Sixteen year old kids are not allowed in the bar."
"Yes but I can do a transformation jutsu like the last time!" Konohamaru placed two hands together, putting his best pouting face on. "I could transform into an older person and all! Can I pretend to be your long lost nii-san? Last time I was a girl so that didn't work out too well sensei! Strange guys tried to hit on you!"
Sakura silently signaled her friends to leave them alone so that she could relay the sudden news to him, her pleading look going unnoticed by him. As much as she wanted to spend some more time with Sakura, Hinata agreed and gave her a parting hug.
"Be safe." She murmured before dragging Ino away who yelled a loud 'good bye'. Honestly, the moment she finds out what Sakura had planned, she would go up in hysterics. It would be the best to drag her out and explain everything the next day.
"Konohamaru, would you like to take a walk around Konoha with me?"
"Yeah!" He jumped up, tossing a few bills on the table. "Let's go! Teuchi San, I'll be off now! Thanks for the delicious ramen!" The moment after he yelled, he braced himself for the regular punch he would normally receive on his head. Instead, she smiled at him and walked out, not saying another word.
"...She's planning a slow death for me." he muttered to himself as he followed her outside. "Oh and, I forgot to ask, how was the meeting?" He asked, a trickle of worry suddenly inundating him. "Did you tell them off?"
She still didn't say a word, instead smiling and motioning him to follow her. He was a bit confused and yet did not argue with her, instead choosing to walk by her side. Occasionally he'd peer at her face to see what she was thinking but the same expression remained; blank with a ghost of a smile.
"Uh...sensei?"
He blinked as he realized where she had bought him. The graveyard? Why would she bring him here...unless...
"Come on." She smiled wider before walking in. That set him off. With comical horror, the ANBU trainee spun around and attempted to flee, only to have his teacher disable his leg muscles and drag him in by the back of his collar. Konohamaru let out loud screams in hopes that someone would hear him, thrashing around, apologizing for being cheeky and begging her not to bury him underground.
She had done it once as punishment, when she caught him peeking into the girl's public bath and he had been in so deep shock that it took him a week to recover completely. To think she'd go out of her way to actually purchase a coffin and fill it up with spiders and snakes (non-poisonous as she revealed later on) before pushing him in, sealing the top and kicking it 6 feet below before filling it up with sand.
Frightening indeed…
He suspected at times that his dear sensei could very well be a sadist, by the way of observation and from rumors on how she usually treated her enemies,
Once, Genma told him that on one of her missions as a Jounin together with him, she had ripped out the intestines of one of the enemy nin while he was still alive and forced him to eat it because he had tried to use an innocent child as his shield against them. Afterwards, after he apologized, she healed his stomach up, disabled his arms and legs and dropped him into an eagles nest and watched them eat him alive.
"Sensei don't kill me~" he really did burst out crying then, upon recalling the story. He didn't know whether Genma made it up or not; what mattered was that it nearly made him piss his pants and lose his appetite for anything that had meat for a month. A shame too; since he had to turn down a barbecue which she offered to treat him to upon passing an exam with flying colors.
"Hey guys, how are you today?"
Surprised, he opened his eyes to see that they had arrived in front of the graves of her teammates. He slowly looked up to see her glossy eyes and froze. Something was terribly wrong.
"Sensei?"
Sakura blinked and smiling sheepishly let him have the use of his legs back. "Sorry, you were about to run away so..."
"You never come to this place unless you are greatly upset." Konohamaru interrupted. "Did something happen? Did those two elders do something again?" He took her hands into his hands. "Tell me, sensei!"
She did not reply, staring at their graves before kneeling down in front of the graves and clearing the dead flowers and whatever dirt there was. Cicadas begin to cry out and in the deep orange glow of the sunset, it sounded ominous and unsettling. He watched her place a hand over Naruto's tombstone, her breath hitching.
"Naruto, do you see Konohamaru here? He has become a splendid shinobi as of now. He will become ANBU next week and soon will begin hunting after missing nin." She bowed her head slightly, as if praying for something. "Yeah, he has become quite a wonderful shinobi. He will very well become the sixth Hokage."
"Sensei-"
"I'm leaving Konoha for good."
A large gust of wind blew her hair long back and forth then, and Sakura would have thought that it was an expression of her teammate's slight displeasure if she had thought about it in a whimsical way. But Sakura would not think that way. That time was past, and she thought more practical now, refusing to believe in those 'atrocious and highly ridiculous superstitions' she she put it.
"Tonight will be very cold..." She murmured. "Can you believe it...those dumb elders are telling me to accept the position of Hokage. Stupid isn't it? I told them over and over I wouldn't..and yet they wouldn't accept it. They will announce it tomorrow afternoon and before that, I need to get away..."
She finally turned to look at her pupil and smiled remorsefully. "But before that I have done my part in preparing your student to become the Hokage."
Konohamaru stared at her, completely frozen before he uttered a tiny whimper. "What? You..."
She paused briefly before she looked down on her lap, trying her hardest to not flinch at the hurtful expression on his face. "Really now...they need to respect your feelings too Naruto. I really don't want to be Hokage. I don't deserve it. And that's why I'm leaving. And this will probably be the last time I will visit you-"
"Sensei!" She was abruptly interrupted as Konohamaru took her by the shoulder and shook her hard. "What are you saying!? You can't just decide that!" With that, he took her hand and began dragging her towards the exit. "We're going to go talk to those stupid elders right away! They can't do this!"
"Konohamaru." She sighed, stopping him. With a questioning look, he turned to stare at her face that had a sedate calmness all over it. Her eyes twinkled kindly. "You have been a wonderful student. My duty is done here."
"But-"
"From today we part as student and teacher. I appreciate and cherish the fun years we spent together. I reckon this is how you spent your few years with Naruto as well." She tugged her hand free from his and held up Naruto's 'good guy' thumbs up, adding a meek smile to back it up. "In three days from now, you will embrace your duty as a fully fledged ANBU! And your first mission will be to hunt me down. Don't fail me!"
This could not be happening. His first teacher and friend and left him without as much as a goodbye since long back. While he spent roughly a year with Naruto, he had spent a whole lot more time with Sakura sensei. While Naruto was a great friend, Sakura was a great friend and a wonderful teacher. Those four years he had spent with her, she had taught him more things than he wanted to know and had been more of a friend than anyone had ever been to him.
She acted like a big sister to him, guiding him and picking him up when he fell, not complaining the slightest even when he messed up over and over, only harshly berating him when he gave up. She just couldn't leave like this-!
He began pleading with her to stay, to accept the role of Hokage for a few years until his training was complete and then to try stand up for the post. He began berating her for even thinking of a rash decision by herself and argued that this would make Naruto extremely unhappy. Stomping his feet, waving his arms around in gestures, he tried to get a reaction out of her face.
But she just listened patiently before stuffing her hands into her pockets and turning to face the graves of her teammate. He waited for a response; a sigh, a gentle smile, a slap or a pat on the cheek. It never came.
The feeble hope in his chest vanished and he felt his lower lip start to quiver. "Wrong..." he hissed harshly, his hands shaking in anger. "..this is...all wrong!"
With this, he turned and ran, not giving another look back.
The silence that followed served to increase her feeling of desolation and she felt as if there was truly no one in this world who would help her. She felt as if she was falling into a never ending pitch black hole, one she could not escape from. There was no one to catch her, and she knew she could not expect one to do so. The warmth inside of her was dying slowly and she knew it would continue to cease to exist. And she hoped by then, her physical presence too, would be extinct.
She wouldn't grasp at the warmth and try to keep it going on. She would let it die. A part of her told her she was being ridiculous. But then, there was nothing she could do. All her life she had failed others, this time, even if she were failing herself, she wouldn't care. It was done. She began talking to them, as if they existed, explaining how her day went.
She didn't want to leave them. Leaving Konoha will be like leaving a part of her. But she had no choice. They forced her to take this choice. It wouldn't be too bad, she tried to convince herself. Gaara was a great friend and Suna was a wonderful country with joyful people. She would stay there for a while before moving onto another country.
Perhaps she could settle down in a tropical island as a civilian on vacation; permanently.
Whispering farewell, she turning around and slowly walked away. Another burst of wind blew leaves around her, encircling her as if they didn't want her to leave. The cicadas were shrieking into the dying sun now and she felt that she had to leave before her emotions got better of her.
"Winter will be here soon..." She sighed as she stopped briefly and looked back, the final glance at them. The three black polished stones stared back at her, almost as if they expressed utmost grief at her departure. Sucking in a deep breath of air, she started running, ignoring greetings and familiar faces as she flew from rooftop to rooftop.
She needed to pack up soon and go to her mentor; the last one she would see before she left.
Near midnight, a figure slipped into the Hokage mansion going completely unnoticed by the security shinobi who were slacking off their job. She scowled at them, itching to fling a rock at their heads but chose not to.
She came here to say goodbye to Tsunade; not to throttle stupid shinobi who were slacking off from their duties.
And so, creeping along the halls she glanced around every now and then, knowing that this would be the last time she would see this place; until Konohamaru became Hokage that is. And that would take an awful lot of time.
She felt somewhat sorry for him; perhaps she should've told him off in a less dramatic manner. She liked drama of course; life was boring without it. And farewells were always better off in the sunset with a few tears in a place either one would most likely remember.
…Maybe the graveyard as a bit too much.
…Or maybe even the style of her bidding farewell.
It cannot be helped; she was a strange kunoichi with tendencies to make people cry in cheesy situations and then later feel bad about it.
"Shisou~" She whispered as she opened the door, making the door creak a bit. Knowing her mentor, she would be snoring her head off. Sometimes it was hard to believe that she was the granddaughter of the legendary first Hokage. Then again the god of shinobi himself was a Naruto-typed idiot.
"Hello." She said in a more normal tone as she closed the door behind her. "Shisou are you awake? I'm here to say bye-bye before I take off my heels towards Suna and to hide behind my racoon friend."
"Well that's quite a blunt way to put it," The light flicked on, illuminating the whole room and revealing the busty Hokage seated in an armchair, staring at her with a half-hearted annoyed expression. "A pity; I was expecting you to come and give your old mentor a hug and bawl out your regrets."
"You know me better than that." The pinkette resisted rolling her eyes and she crossed her hands over her chest. "You expected this would happen a long time ago."
"Still," Tsunade sighed as she gracefully rose up, rubbing her temples. "You could have at least pretended to be upset about leaving me. You did a number on poor Konohamaru. He stopped crying only ten minutes ago."
She blinked slowly, once, twice before scanning the room. She spotted the spiky hair giving out his hiding place from the outside window and sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger in slight amusement and annoyance. How long had he been sitting outside there exactly?
"Get inside Konohamaru."
"...You are history's worst teacher...ever."
"Konohamaru-"
"Why did you have to do all that to me? You made me bawl my eyes out you mean person!"
"…Come on now you are sixteen. Don't talk as if you are a child. And you would have cried either way so what's wrong in putting in a bit of melodrama? Now get inside before you catch a cold or I'll wring your arm before I leave."
Seemingly grudgingly, the trainee ANBU hopped back in, scowling as hard as he could. Still, Sakura couldn't help but notice some merriment in his eyes; the same twinkling she noted whenever he was up to something. Just what was going on?
"What are you doing here stalking the Hokage at this hour Konohamaru?"
"I should be asking you that sensei."
"I was not stalking. I walked in like a normal person."
"You crept inside like a crab." He finally broke out into a bright grin, surprising her. "That technique is unnoticeable but it makes you look like a crab with pink hair sensei! You should go back to wearing red because most crabs are red and you'll resemble one even fur- OW! THAT HURTS!"
Tsunade winced as Sakura pinched his ear, tugging it as hard as she could while maintaining a cool face with a ghost of an amused smile. But she didn't need to worry because she let go soon and he laughed right afterwards.
"I need a clear explanation as to what is going on here. Why is my student here?"
Tsunade pursed her lips, turning to the boy hesitantly before taking out a small scroll from pocket of the sleeves of her Yukata and let out a deep sigh.
"He came here bawling his eyes out and somehow I managed to tell him about this scroll…and somehow he managed to yell enough to convince me to trust you with it so we waiting until you would show up."
The Gondaime chuckled at her unchanged expression before all traces of her humor vanished. Slowly, she unraveled the scroll and held it up for her student to see.
"Do you recognize these markings Sakura?"
She shook her head, folding her arms over chest with blatant disinterest. "Is it a parting gift you both are bestowing upon me for defecting from my village?"
"People don't give people gifts to run away from a village sensei."
"Shut up."
"It is more than four hundred years old." Tsunade continued, ignoring her. "And it contains only one jutsu and should this fall into the wrong hands, it could very well destroy the entire world."
Sakura raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. She'd seen a lot worse that came to 'destroying the entire world' in the war.
"It was supposedly written by the sage of six paths soon after he sealed the 10 tails in him He gave it to his younger son, who formed the Senju clan, and was passed on to us from generation to generation. My grandfather gifted this to me at his death bed." She cocked her head. "Do you know what power this scroll holds?"
"You just said it would destroy the entire world if it fell to the wrong hands and that the sage of six paths wrote it himself…" She stifled a yawn before turning around and waving. "It's probably some extreme version of that jutsu Pein used to destroy Konoha or something like what the sage used to create the moon, yatta, yatta, I'm off now."
Honestly, what were they thinking telling her all this now? She was defecting from Konoha; she really didn't need to know anything about this. At least she had something to add to the story she would tell Gaara when she would arrive.
"This scroll enables the user to go back in time, memories and power intact."
She abruptly stopped, her hand frozen over the door knob.
"This scroll will let you travel to the past, back to as long as you wish and in what form you wish to go, with your memories and abilities intact."
A cold bead of sweat slid down her cheek and she forced herself to swallow, her throat seemingly dry all of a sudden. Slowly, she turned to face her mentor, fixing a cold glare upon her. "Stop joking around. How is that even possible?"
And if it were real...how did she get her hands on this?
"The sage of six paths wrote it and it has been unused ever since. Its the only scroll of it's kind." Tsunade looked away from her student who seemed to be growing furious with each word she said. "It can be used but once, and then the markings disappear forever, never to return. The user will go back as long as she wishes...it is unknown what would happen to the initial time she left after she manages to change it but-"
"Stop screwing around with me!"
Konohamaru took large steps back as threatening green chakra began encircling his mentor's hands, up her arms and the seal on her forehead glowed, illuminating her pale face up and with her bared teeth and equally emerald eyes, made her look almost demonic. Tsunade however; did not seem so much as frazzled at the sight of her student in so much anger.
It bothered her less that her student had complete mastery over the yin seal -she wouldn't dare come close to hurting them.
"You mean to say this scroll had been in your possession for this whole time…and you did not use it?!" She snapped, "WHY DIDN'T YOU USE IT TO BRING NARUTO BACK?!"
Tsunade swallowed hard as she looked down at the piece of rolled up paper in her hands, biting down on her lower lip. Sakura growled at the lack of response.
"Answer me Shisou! Why didn't you go back in time and save Konoha?! You could have stopped the masked man from killing Naruto's parents, could have stopped the Uchiha clan massacre," she sucked in a deep breath of air, shutting her eyes tightly. "Could have stopped the third Hokage's death, Jiraya Sama's death, the shinobi wars-!"
The green chakra slowly vanished as her mentor ungracefully fell back into her chair, her face twisted in pain. Sakura willed herself to calm down and she frowned as she carefully studied her mentor's exhausted looking frame.
"I was close to using this scroll, more than once, just to bring back those I loved." She spoke quietly, looking up at her pupil. "Don't you see Sakura; I am a selfish woman. I am someone who only wants her own loved ones to come only reason why I kept this scroll safely tucked away was because I couldn't find anyone to trust this with." Her grating voice sounded harsh in the now, quiet room and Konohamaru flinched slightly, looking out of the window until it was his time to speak.
"I only wanted to bring back those I loved, should I give it to Naruto he would've probably stopped them from killing his parents but wouldn't understand Sasuke completely and vice versa. Kakashi would of course, would try stop his teammate from dying."
"Should I have had given this to you earlier as well, you would've only stopped what you felt was right; would have only done things for your own interest, unlike who you are right now. You know the truth behind almost everything Sakura; you-"
"Hold up." The ANBU captain held a hand up while the other busied itself by rubbing on the sides of her temple. "Are you trying to convince me to go back in time and to save Konoha?"
Tsunade blinked, seemingly somewhat annoyed at being interrupted but nodded in response. "…Yes. Do you have a problem with that?"
Problem? She couldn't start listing the number of problems she had with this. A time travelling scroll suddenly manifests out of nowhere. And suddenly she has to go back in time to save Naruto.
How long did her teacher have this scroll for? She didn't want to ask.
"You're insane."
"Would you rather let what is going on right now continue?" Tsunade snapped, standing right back up with full force. Good lord this girl was going to drive her insane if she wasn't already! "The entirety of the shinobi world is in chaos right now! You of all people know how violently the war ended! The new generation has seen the highest amount of ANBU's recruited even compared to the second shinobi war!"
"Tsk..."
"Children are dying Sakura." Tsunade whispered, her shoulders trembling. "I thought things would get better but in five years, all we're seeing is more and more shinobi dying in line of duty...all in the name of protecting our country! Think about it Sakura, are you really going to lament about what happened in the past or going to actually stand up and fix it with your own hands?"
Sakura faltered momentarily before averting her eyes. "...I'm weak."
"You used up your chakra reserves to heal hundreds of shinobi all at once and replenished bosses chakra and injuries repeatedly." Konohamaru dictated from memory and Sakura turned to look at him. "And you were on par with your teammates with only half your giant chakra reserves and immediately assisted in healing even after the war ended."
They were the talks that were passed down through Konoha after the war; every civilian who hadn't even witnessed the battlefield had knowledge of her feats and many kunoichi strived to be like Sakura. Tsunade smiled at her student who stood with a nonplussed expression.
"So like, you're the coolest ninja in Konoha sensei!"
"…"
"…In the Shinobi world."
"…"
"Most badass Kunoichi in-"
"Cut it out."
Tsunade groaned before tossing the scroll over to her student before turning around and walking towards the window. "Get the hell out of here already."
"Shisou-"
"It's an order. Don't make me regret what I just did. Just think positive and about how you'll get to see Naruto, Sasuke and Kakashi again." She mumbled, letting out a sniff and crossing her hands over her chest haughtily.
She stared down at the goddamn scroll in her hands, feeling a twitch start above her left eye. How was she supposed to change time? What exactly was she supposed to do? Not to mention she had no idea of where to start-
"Just so you know, you can wish to go just about anywhere but then the scroll may have a mind of its own and may drop you off some place random," The busty blond turned around with a worried look. "Like deep in the middle of an ocean or something so be prepared."
Well that was reassuring and absolutely handy dandy. "And how do you know that if you haven't tested it out?" Sakura asked as she inspected the scroll.
"It came with an instruction manual."
Sakura wasn't even going to ask if that was a joke or not.
"May I mention that the scroll may shrink you to the size of a little child?" Tsunade added, grinning to herself. "Perhaps as appropriate to the situation…I wouldn't know."
Lovely. Absolutely lovely. It didn't make a lick of sense but it was lovely.
"Are you up for it then, sensei?" She looked at Konohamaru's anxious face and raised an eyebrow in question. "Ya know…I'm going to miss you and all. But I think you still miss your teammates better than I will ever miss you…"
He shifted uncomfortably from one foot to another and looked off someplace else with a sad look in his eyes. "I miss Naruto nii-san too. And I think the only person who would be able to take care of him is you. Since boss can be whiny even though he's cool, you can always calm him down with that punch of yours and…"
He looked back up, pouting. "Just do me a favor and become friends with my spoiled brat self if you meet me okay?"
So there was honestly no choice in all this now wasn't it? The two pleading looks the two people she cared for the most currently were making her uncomfortable and she just couldn't walk away. Besides, she suspected that should she turn around, Tsunade-Shisou would start talking aloud about 'the good old times' and bribe her into it anyway.
It was not like she didn't want to go. She truly did; she was just a bit unsure of whether she would be able to handle something like this.
"I get it, I get it!" She sighed as she stared down at the scroll. "I'll go. Supposing this piece of crap doesn't work, I'm stealing your famous sake crate before leaving Konoha."
At the fair piece of warning, Tsunade smiles nervously before motioning her to keep the scroll down and to step on it before doing the tiger seal.
Honestly if that was all it took to activate the world's most powerful jutsu, Sakura really didn't hope much for this to work out.
"Just think about a certain scenario and you will probably go there." She heard Tsunade suggest as she closed her eyes.
"Alright, I'm picturing myself falling through the sky towards the training ground where little Sasuke is playing." She mumbled with sarcasm thick in her voice. Honestly, she did not expect this to work out at all.
And honestly, she did not expect for the ground to give way and for her to feel herself actually falling. Opening her eyes, she let out a shriek as she saw a forest floor approaching her steadily and on reflex, put her hands out in front of her to brace herself for the impact.
"WHY IN THE NAME OF CHOCOLATE PUDDING HAVE MY HANDS SHRUNK!?" She yelled, moments before she landed stomach first on the top most branch of a tree. "…Ow."
Slowly, she tried to get up, only to succeed in slipping off the branch and falling again; this time into a pile of thick leaves that barely cushioned her fall. Disorientated and too numb to actually feel any pain, she tried to heal herself only to find out that she was severely depleted of chakra.
Judging how she felt, she probably broke several ribs, fractured a leg, an arm, and possibly had a bad concussion because there was a boy who resembled Sasuke who was staring at her with wide eyes. There was someone hiding behind him and her vision was too fuzzy to make anything out properly.
"Ugh…" she whispered hoarsely before she fell backwards once more. Darkness consumes her before she even hit the ground and she drifted off into a dreamless trance, wondering what she had just gotten herself into. One thing for sure...she was going to punch down the Hokage mansion when she wakes up.
Q&A section/authors notes
[2020 update - I just might be rewriting this story after four years of hiatus haha]
To answer some other questions:
~Yes, Sakura is somewhat loose in the head. Seeing how Kakashi adopted many of Obito's mannerisms following his death I believe it would be reasonable for Sakura to do the same...especially since she lost all three in such a short span of time. Sakura blames herself for failing her comrades -it's only likely she'd try to cope by subconsciously adopting her own teammates habits.
~ In the original chapter I had Neji approach Sakura. Since Neji...passed away in the manga I decided to replace him with Shikamaru in order to make it somewhat more realistic. Also, Shikamaru is closer to Sakura so I think it's not a bad change.