Disclaimer - I do not own Naruto or Fairy Tail
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By Any Means
Interlude - The Cherry's Path
Opening - Now or Never by Nano
0o0o0 15 Years Ago - Hidden Village Shadow Heart - Fiore 0o0o0
"But I don't want to go!"
"Sakura, please sweety you have to understand what an opportunity this is for you." Sakura's mother smiled sadly down at her daughter as she could barely hold back the tears in her own eyes. After all it wasn't easy saying goodbye to your only child for Kami knows how long.
"No! I want to stay with you and Tou-san!" the crying girl buried her face further into her mother's bosom, shaking uncontrollably.
"Now Sakura-chan is that anyway for a Haruno to behave?" Kizashi, Sakura's father, asked with a chuckle behind his words as tears began to swell. He bent down and rested one of his hands on top of his daughter's head. She tentatively looked up at him. "Sakura I know this is tough for you, and you don't want to be apart from me or Kaa-chan, but I know for sure Tsunade-sama will take good care of you. You're going to learn all sorts of things from her and become a great Kunoichi of Shadow Heart. We Haruno have always been foot soldiers fighting on the front lines to pave the way. We're a small clan but our pride is among the largest. Do us proud and study every day. And don't forget to eat properly or else Kaa-chan will be sad. And most importantly, never forget that we love you." He pulled his daughter into a tight hug before he let go standing and looked at the twin pig-tailed woman standing behind him.
He nodded at her before looking back down at Sakura. "Go on, Sakura-chan. You're future is waiting for you." He smiled brightly at her and gestured for his five year old to make a choice that was beyond her age.
Sakura sniffled as she moved forward and reached out to the extended hand from the woman that was taking her away from her family. She turned her head back to look at her crying family, not fully understanding why they were smiling when it was clear they were in pain at her leaving.
It would be the last time she would ever see her parents. Two years later the purge of Shadow Heart swept through the continent and her parents died fighting against those they only wished to protect.
0o0o0 10 Years Ago - Era, City Headquarters of the Magic Council 0o0o0
"Is something wrong Sakura?" Tsunade asked as her apprentice paced back and forth, lost in her own mind.
Shaken out of her thoughts Sakura looked at her master and blushed in embarrassment. "I-ie. I'm fine Shishou. I'm just anxious to get out and stretch. We've been cooped up in your office all day. That's all."
"There's no need to lie to me, what's troubling your mind?" Tsunade asked with concern. It had been five years since she took the young girl in as her apprentice and only three since their way of life had been forever shattered. And in those five years she had taken to see Sakura as a daughter.
When all of Earthland turned on Shadow Heart it had been difficult to console the girl when news of her parents fate had reached them. The girl didn't eat for days and had practically given up on life. For the first two years she had devoted herself to all she was being taught, looking forward to the day she could show her parents how far she'd come.
"W-well… tomorrow is my father's birthday. I… I wanted to ask if it would be alright if I traveled to the Elemental Embassy and pray at the shrines there. Its… well, nevermind I shouldn't have asked." Sakura looked away, burning tears swelling up and scorching their way down her cheeks.
Sakura knew it would cause a stir if she went to the Embassy to pray at the shrines. After all her master was a Magic Council member and her having an Elemental apprentice was enough of a burden as it was. She remembered the days of suspicion her master had to suffer through because of her. Her master had been lucky in having Fioran blood and most of her Elemental blood hidden away by genetics.
Tsunade couldn't help the sad smile that spread across her face. "How about we both go? It's been for too long since I honoured my ancestors anyway. It can be a girl's day out! Just don't tell Shizune, ok?" She chuckled at the thought of her niece yelling at both of them for taking a day off, but when given the circumstances she would sigh and let it go and join them.
Sakura's eyes lit up and the smile beaming on her face brought a calming warmth to Tsunade's heart. "Mm."
0o0o0 8 Years Ago - Road From Era to Magnolia 0o0o0
"Kami its hot out," Sakura wiped the sweat dripping from her brow as she walked along the dirt path in the boiling Fiore summer. Spotting a tree stump up the road in the shade she decided to take a rest.
Upon reaching the stump she fell to her knees in relief as the shade provided a much needed escape from the summer sun. She sat there for a few moments enjoying the shade before making use of the stump and sitting properly. She reached pulled her pack off and opened it to pull a prepared lunch out consisting of her guilty pleasure for syrup-coated anko dumplings, a hearty salad and water.
Sakura was just about to take a bite of her precious dumplings when an unexpected… something rammed into her forcing both herself and her lunch to go tumbling over the side of the road.
"Hey! Watch where you're going! Can't you see I'm trying to run!" a squeaky voice yelled from the top of its lungs.
Sakura looked at her dirtied dumplings and could feel nothing but pure hatred for the squeaky voice more than likely belonging to some punk kid who had no manners or consideration for anyone. She whipped around and saw a short pink-haired boy with a scarf that made it appear like he had dragon scales. "Watch where I'm going!? Why don't you watch where you're going! You didn't even warn me! For that matter you didn't even try to go around me did you!? You ruined my lunch you snot-nosed brat! Now what was so important that you couldn't bother having a little manners and politely go around me!"
The boy had no hesitation in pointing back to where he'd run from to point at a group of Vulcan running dangerously close to them.
"Them."
"I am going to kill you kid." Sakura muttered as she walked toward the group of charging Vulcan pulling out a pair of black gloves and slipped them on.
Sakura stood there waiting for them to get closer, falling into a stance. "You god damn piece of shit monkeys. You have no idea how long it took for me to make those dumplings correctly. Three god forsaken days of trying recipe after recipe to make them taste like my mother used to make them. Now I would throw that kid in with the lot of you shit-throwers but since he's a little kid who needs to be taught some manners I'm going to have to take out my anger on all of you! So come and get your beating, shannaro!"
In a flash of pink and red Sakura was upon the first one her fist embedded deeply in the vulcan's stomach. Its eyes bugged out, the wind completely knocked out of it before the sensation of flying backwards pulled into the nearest tree. Losing no momentum Sakura landed and roundhoused the next before moving onto the next. "Shannaro!"
The boy watched in awe as he watched the girl he'd run into tear the group of vulcans he'd pissed off apart.
Sakura huffed as she watched the last of the remaining vulcans run away. "Hmph. Good riddance. Now," She turned on her heel toward the boy, "I believe you owe me an explanation… er what was your name again?"
"I'm Natsu Dragneel! And you're really strong sis!" Natsu smiled brightly at her.
"Sis? I'm not your sister kid."
"Sure you are! You've got pink hair and are really strong just like dad!"
Sakura could only stare at the stupid logic she had just been given. Why did she suddenly feel like she was stuck with this kid? She really didn't want to stand here out in the heat trying to explain that having the same hair colour didn't mean you were siblings with someone.
Perhaps his dad wasn't that far away so he could get his son out of her hair and she could get back on the road to Fairy Tail.
She had no idea how long she'd be waiting.
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Ending - Black Board - Nano
0o0o0o0o0o0
Another interlude piece that was actually supposed to be the second one posted but the other one was just simply finished faster. I have no idea how long this has just been sitting around waiting to be finished. Knowing how well liked Sakura is(pft making myself laugh) I figured I'd just get this out of the way and move on to the next one that needs to be done.
As far as when the next arc is coming it still won't be for awhile. Hopefully the first chapter will be done before April, if not the first few weeks into April.
Review Answers:
Digitize27: It seems separated because it is. The Fairy Tail cannon is happening in parallel to this stories narrative and slowly the two are integrating into one. And don't worry about the scope because the scope of this story was realized a long time ago and a second author had to be brought in to write it. Only one of the many reasons this story takes so long to write. And it's already imploded once or twice. But its become my main fanfic focus as of now so its worth sticking too.
Cerulean Knight: Don't worry there's only one other Uchiha (probably) to show up. And no he won't be wearing a mask. Also the only Senju is Tsunade and no wood style. We actually don't like the sharinghax all that much. They just make for good villains.
YuukiAsuna-Chan: I had a lot of fun reading your reviews. Especially when you got to the last chapter. As for Sakura hitting Naruto she's a tsundere character. Its what tsundere do. Seriously has no one ever realized this? Sakura is a tsundere.
SeductiveApple: ... yo.
Volcomking16: There's a reason why they let Naruto live. And yes it plays into the evil plan. For now just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Also we have hit 500 reviews! Holy shit that's a lot. Lets get even higher guys. I know there's a lot of you that read this! Don't be shy and let us know what you think good or bad. Just be signed in if you're going to flame. I only get rid of guest flames.
See you all in the next one guys.
TheRevolutionaryRonin