52. Today we're at 200 thousand words. I wouldn't have believed this when I started, but we've come a long way! The next update will be in the AUs over in Links, I'm thinking something like Sakura growing up in Kumo as a merchant? But still thinking.

To Sarki (Guest): Ah, I'm afraid this is the first time I've gotten comments on my grammar… Thanks for leaving a point on it, I'll be sure to vet the chapters even more carefully when I finally edit them.


In the previous world, most people would die quietly, unremarkably. The thing that they called 'death by natural causes' or 'death by old age' was not so much really a cause on its own, a culmination of the stresses that a body fails to keep up with over time.

Reflecting back on this, and watching as the piles and piles of files, deaths in each of them, slowly diminish as the hospital director goes through them with her. When she first met the Head Director, then the Head Medic, negotiating for the ashes of Hinata's uncle, he had told her very honestly that Kumo cared little about medics.

Medics kill the way doctors do. Even if they don't think of it that way, the way people kill by omission, by inability. It has taken a few years to reconcile being a medic who saves people and actively kills all the same.

This sentiment of obviously at odds with the secret operation behind her presence in Kumo. This director has the confidence of the Raikage. He's not as bad as Karui-san at keeping a secret, but he's not as good as Samui-san either.

So of course, he doesn't react quite as smoothly when she comments to him that, "It is a pity that there aren't clans other than the Yamanaka who know how to mindwalk. I would like to regather the memories I have lost."

The director is at a loss for a moment, not even replying to the polite banter or offering his well wishes, stunned as he says, "What a sudden thought, Haruno-sama…"

She taps her pen against the file open to them, and his attention is drawn back to the next patient they are offering her to treat. "Ah… well in this case, the memory is really the lesser of his concerns. Since he cannot move or speak, he cannot create new memories either."

Sakura chuckles – as she sets the file into the pile that she will agree to treat, "Head Medic-sama almost sounds like you are chiding me for my foolish hope."

The older male with his weak smile, crows feet by his eyes and an awkward cough to clear up the air, "You misunderstand, Haruno-sama. It would be a miracle if he could get back up on his feet. And as I've already mentioned, please, feel free to address me by name."

She turns to look at him, blinking before pretending to recall. "Ah, Nouzen-sama. Sorry, I called you by the wrong title again, didn't I."

"Director, Head Director," and he smiles here, "what is the difference, Haruno-sama? To be called casually by a medic of your calibre is the true honour."

As they look through and dispose of more files, swiping left on people to languish and right on people given hope, she hums, listening to his sweet flattery and watching it wind around her like the wind coming through the window.

"Nevertheless, isn't it many years of struggle to finally oust the one person above you in title?" she says like a person digging through the office politics, drawing on guesses and child-like logic all the same.

This time, Nouzen actually laughs. "Haruno-sama is truly one-of-a-kind. I'm afraid I wasn't as good as all that. In the eight years that you were not here, my predecessor retired of old age."

Ah, death by old age. For ninja to stop working is to die, one of the most natural causes. Also another of the reasons why there are very few old ninjas in any village. In this world where people breathe fire and split the earth, dying is the natural state of affairs.

"If that is what you believe, Nouzen-sama, then I am not in a position to counsel you otherwise," she says lightly, allowing that thread of conversation to fall where it stands. At the feet of this interesting man who controls who lives or dies in this hospital, who has the ear of the Raikage who has no intentions of seeing her before she becomes attached to his village.


Suzuraiden Shirai, who heads Raiden Merchants, finds about a month into the Lady Haruno's stay that she's lost her memories. It's not as if he hears this straight from her mouth – Haruno-sama whom he met when she was a child of less than ten was already cautious to a fault.

She once called the whole bunch of them merchants, loyal to a fault to their villages, and he had bristled at the implied scorn. Shirai had reared up like a wounded animal, the way most of the other merchant heads had.

One of the things that ninja villages do, kidnapping and assassination, while not things foreign to him, they can't be when he's the clan head for so many who choose that line of work, are not things he looks fondly upon.

It's one of the evils they live with for a civilised society. However, it is a bit too much, a bit too convenient if they want him to accept the explanation his clan members can accept.

The one who reported to him seemed all too convinced and therefore, ready to endorse the version of the story that said, "She was rescued from the Konoha dogs chasing her down, but the trauma of it has made her lose much of her memory."

Beyond the tensions that still run high occasionally, 'dogs' is such a harsh, if apt word for the tree-loving ninja who talk about teamwork and never giving up, Konoha is a valuable trading partner for their clan.

The Haruno family was important to that, even after their last member decided to relinquish all that power.

The Lady Haruno, whom that sneaky old Dokuran Ensui gave the information on his village's secret medical research program, would never be given reason to flee Konoha. Since she's much too valuable for them to lose, being a key Konoha asset the way her genin team is.

He might love his village, but Shirai is not an idiot, and will not be treated as one. Another of the reasons, he tells himself, is that he asked one of his merchant contacts to pass along the news that the Lady Haruno is walking around unhampered like she's on holiday.

It is up to the Konoha side to take some kind of action if they happen to overhear this.

His village, of all places, should pride itself in being secure, should pride itself in well-thought-out plans.

Shirai has to say, he won't be surprised if that merchant comes back with an extra helper or two, piggybacking on his good name to get past the gate guards.

The Raikage A, after his father, has gone soft and drunk on power if he thinks that pure might will last in the next century.

Money, still, is the best. One of the reasons why he likes to be around in their flagship store, at the front counter, greeting customers and checking up on the restocking.

"Ah, Suzuraiden-sama," comes the pleasant voice, a little lower and matured than what he remembered. The pink hair and the green eyes are all the same.

"Haruno-sama," he says bowing lightly, "what a surprise, I didn't know you were visiting? I should be in charge of your accommodation, as we agreed."

The Lady Haruno's smile confirms for him, as she says "I'm afraid I don't remember much of how I came by, only that I have woken up to see a couple years gone. If the story is to be believed, Konoha was trying to kill me. So perhaps, I wasn't an idiot after all."

She's telling him a joke, somehow, enjoying a good show as once again, everyone overreacts and does as she expects.

"Will you invite me to eat?" "It would be my pleasure," he says, gesturing for them to move off to the side. Still at the counter, but at least where there are seats and a little cover from passing eyes.

"Will you order for me a Konoha tree?" she asks next, dead serious, and he replies smoothly, "If it will earn me money, certainly."

"Please do so, then. The Raikage has been dropping not-so-subtle hints about setting roots down here, now that I've healed a couple dozen of his ninja. I'm sure a little tree will not be a problem."

He hides a snort, "I will invoice the Lord Raikage for your tree but if you would like an authentic Konoha tree, it will not be, 'little' in any stretch of the word."

"I hope the order for the tree will arrive in Konoha at the same time that news of my awakening," she tells him as seriously. Then she draws something out from her sleeves, and Shirai hates that he is curious, rather than tense.

Since even if she is young, she is the same age as all the other trained killers from his clan. Barely younger than the ninja who reported to him the official story behind Haruno-sama's arrival in Kumo.

"Will you deliver this for me? To Hyuga Hinata."

"A Kumo cinnamon bun? Should I dissect this, or expect my own ninja to turn on my caravan to check it?"

The young lady smiles, "Since you love your village, Suzuraiden-sama should check it for yourself. But it is just a cinnamon bun."

He takes the bun from her, looking over the package, noting the active preservation seal, "Even though this seal was from one of my dealers, Haruno-sama, delivery fees are separate. Much less cross-border deliveries."

Haruno-sama cocks her head aside, "Surely you can do cash on delivery."

Shirai chokes on his next breath, "Getting the recipient to pay for a delivery, instead of allowing me to include the cost into the product?"

"You can use it as a markup some place in the future, but if a market leader does so, it helps, right? To separate production costs from delivery costs brings more transparency. And you can set up a transport business, rather than basing everything on sales of goods."

"And I can offer lower prices on the correct dates that my caravan leaves, and eventually I can control the flow of information out of the village."

"If there is such information flowing out of your village."

Shirai nods, setting the bread down on the counter, waving over a staff member who can finally bring over drinks for the two of them.

"Send a courier ahead to meet up with the caravan travelling to Konoha. To Hyuga Hinata, a Kumo cinnamon bun with a preservation seal. To any relevant gardening firm, a request for a Konoha tree."

His staff member's eyes linger just a moment too long on the Lady Haruno, who raises her eyebrow, green eyes bright and suddenly sharp.

The Kumo merchant leader clears his throat, sending his staff member shuttling off. He gently pushes the cup of cooling tea over to Lady Haruno, "Please, help yourself."

She takes the tea, thanking him quietly.

"I had been wondering why no one else had come in and had wondered of the health of your flagship store these ten years."

Shirai shakes his head, "Ah, I wouldn't let any random merchant interrupt us, your business is more important to me than most. Though I must say, it does not bode well for a child to question the stability of my business."

Lady Haruno smiles, "That was impolite, I apologise."

"No harm done, no more so when you questioned the loyalty of all us merchant heads the first time we met."

"I remember that, yes," she says, a quick nod to her memory loss, and Shirai hums lightly.

"What have you been doing in Kumo so far? What are your plans, and in fact, what will become of your merchant guild back in Konoha?"

Her eyes have softened again, Shirai dares to say she must be fond of him. "This and that… I'll be helping to reshuffle the hospital and streamline some processes. Head Director of the Kumo General Hospital, Nouzen-sama has retained me as a consultant. I've also been analysing some of the lightning jutsu with the Jutsu Creation and Design Team, met various interesting people, like B-sama and A-sama. As to the merchant guild… I don't think I took a role any more active in the ten years I can't remember."

He smiles just lightly, "Perhaps you have not changed at all these ten years. However, you did do business with me even before we first met. Our meeting then must have been the peak of your involvement since you have not proposed a trade since."

The young lady's memory is sharp, or perhaps having ten years less of her memory reduces the effort it takes to recall. "I wouldn't say buying food ingredients was a particularly lucrative transaction, Suzuraiden-sama."

He pours her another cup of tea, "Volume is money for a merchant. Now, what would you like to have for this meal?"


"If you've been so kind as to do this much, surely you can hire a genin team to escort you back to Kumo," says Kakashi-sensei to the merchant who brings news from Sakura-chan.

Sasuke goes right up to him, overpromising, "I'm certain that Sakura will reward you well."

Naruto can't blame him when they're all getting a little bit desperate. It's their first window in two months, and a merchant walks in telling them there's a piece of bread for Hinata and that Sakura wants to ship a Konoha Tree to Kumo.

"From what I heard, the tree was supposed to be akin to her setting her roots down in Kumo," says the civilian merchant, befuddled by their attitude.

"We're a package deal, mister! Since in Konoha, our team is our family."

Hinata-chan said that the exact same bread had come back with Sakura on her trip to Kumo in their Academy Third year. That version of Sakura doesn't know they're a team, but Naruto is certain that she loves them all the same.

"Will Haruno-sama even know you all? I heard she had quite the ordeal."

He has to reach her to undo the seal, and even more, Ino's father has to check her carefully. Naruto hasn't worried this much for a long time.

It is reassuring, however, that Sakura's favourite ANBU, Tenzo-san will be going to Kumo no matter what. Since he melted into the Konoha tree that is going to be delivered.

Sasuke wonders if something has gone unexpectedly well in the plan that they presented to him, post-execution. From the way Naruto narrated it, Sakura shouldn't be able to remember anything after the date that her memories are sealed at.

Since it's not as if they have someone who knows enough about their team and related adventures, Kumo can't do what sensei pioneered with his memory implantation via Sharingan. The merchant uncle is not lying when he says that Sakura was the one who ordered the Konoha tree.

If it were not for the ANBU with Wood Release, there's no other use for a Konoha tree. One of the contradictions, so they have to make plans for both cases. Is she okay? – one of the thoughts he shakes off.

Physically shaking off the thought, she can't possibly like Kumo more than the Leaf, right?

Naruto gives him a strong slap on the back, "Come on, Sasuke. Pack up. We're leaving tomorrow morning." He grunts, catching Naruto's shifting eyes as a cue, Sensei is still buttering up the merchant with his words full of worry for Sakura.

"Let's also go and see Hinata-chan," Naruto says loudly, allowing him to activate his Sharingan for the time it takes to read what the Kumo escort ninjas are conversing about.

As Naruto throws an arm over his shoulder, Sasuke conveys that, "Among the ninjas who came with the merchant, that red-haired swordswoman has seen Sakura. She's probably not lying, so she has the official storyline as well."

"It looks like my seal has held up on the two ninjas who kidnapped Sakura-chan. So that means that they have no idea how to remove their own seal, and no way even, of checking whether their seal was tampered with."

Sasuke nods as the blonde scratches his scalp in slight frustration, "I don't understand how they could be so desperate as to try something so foolish. Does it even make sense that they took Sakura-chan with a half-baked plan and one-sided seal?"

The Uchiha Lord consciously touches the paper flower in his pouch. "Should we tell Itachi-nii about what has happened? The flower from Konan-san that Sakura left here… She should have just kept it with her, then memory-less or not, we would be able to communicate."

"That's just speculation, Sasuke. Sakura just said it was a token that she didn't want to risk losing. We'll have Sakura back in two weeks, let's just focus on finding out what to say to convince her to come home."


Hinata-san has poured them all tea, after one of the servants brought in the wagashi – senbei and cinnamon-flavoured yatsuhashi.

Briefly, they recap the things that the Kumo escort team let slip, and their classmate makes a small "ah" sound, even as she covers her mouth with one hand.

"Regarding the seal, Naruto-kun, I'm sorry but I didn't keep it. When Sakura came back from her first trip, she brought it because I said that I liked cinnamon buns."

Naruto shakes his head and assures her that it's fine. Sasuke doesn't quite frown as he inserts himself back into the conversation, "Yes, we were just hoping to find a memory closely linked to what she can remember, to see if the memory seal can be weakened."

The Hyuga young lady looks almost crestfallen, and Naruto gives him an almost angry pinch. However, as she pours them more tea, "Between Sakura and I, we have strong memories of tea etiquette, maybe if you bring her some of this tea, it might help? I can give you a packet to take."

Sasuke nods to appease Naruto whose head bobs vigorously, "Thanks Hinata-chan, every bit helps!"

She shakes her head, "I hope it will help, I'm sorry I can't provide much more." As Naruto is about to assure her again, the Hyuga Clan Head steps into the room, holding a sealed pot.

"Otou-sama," Hinata starts to stand from her spot at the head of the table, and her father gestures for her to stay seated.

He nods politely even as Naruto brightly greets him as "Hinata-chan's dad!" There's the barest smile on Hyuga-sama's face as he greets them both. Sasuke doesn't know if that's restraint or politeness

But Sasuke is certain that his even and cool-toned voice is bubbling in worry, "The strongest emotion that Sakura-sama and I have shared must be this." He pushes the blue and white porcelain pot over to their side, the movement gentle and almost tender.

Hinata nods almost empathetically, before requesting, "Naruto-kun, please place some protective seals on this during the journey."

Naruto gives his brightest smile, pledging his honour as a sealsmaster-in-training again so lightly, before asking, "Will Sakura-chan recognise it? What is it?"

"Ah…" Sasuke can't help the sound that escapes him, though Naruto looks at him puzzled. He says it politely, "If Sakura brought this to the Hyuga clan the same time she came back from Kumo, then it must be someone's remains."

Since they held a memorial. Sasuke tries not to think about it, since the timing is close enough. To remind him that they haven't held their own since that day.

Naruto's usually grabby hands are immediately cautious, as he asks, "Is it okay for us to take these?"

Hyuga-sama, "If not for Sakura-sama, we would not have gotten this back anyway. Please care for it well."


She planted her Konoha tree in the hospital's tiny recreational area, telling Nouzen-sama that the environment of recovery is half the battle. Karui-san and Samui-san helped out a little, though they contributed physical labour in supplement of her one Doton jutsu.

Sasuke and Naruto attached themselves to her hip, peppering her with all kinds of questions to 'bring back' her memory. It's troublesome, of course to pretend, but Sakura doesn't know how she would explain that the King of the Underworld protected her memories for her.

If she faked out and pretended to break the seal, that would give them the wrong impression too. Nevertheless, once she returns back to Konoha, they will no doubt mind walk her just in case, would she have to give up all her secrets anyway?

She smiles when they serve her the Hyugas' favourite tea (badly brewed ala Naruto instant ramen technique) and then present to her a porcelain jar.

Sakura does a double-take when she opens the lid and is greeted by the sight of bones and ashes – ah, Hizashi-san. "And this urn is… Hizashi-san?"

"Are you remembering a bit more, Sakura-chan?" Naruto asks eagerly and she gives him another worn smile, "I negotiated for these, so I took a guess. If you ask me to look, of course, I can't tell who it is for sure but that is a male pelvis."

Sasuke looks almost crestfallen since it seems like that was the most impactful thing they brought. They start bringing out all kinds of little knickknacks – sugar sachets, shogi pieces, leaves, Sakura blossoms, Konan's origami, they even got Shibi-sama to send over a report of his member's Rinkaichu.

They could have put that first, but Shibi-sama must have kept the truth a secret as they promised. Sakura is quite certain, even a seal wouldn't let her forget that sensation. Of having her body chewed up and invaded only to heal again and again and again – that burning pain.

That's probably enough acting.

"Naruto, you said that you could try to remove that seal, right?" And he nods, "I can try, but I'd really rather we do it back in Konoha, where Ino's dad can check on you immediately after."

"Alright. Then I'll speak to Raikage-sama. We can head home today, then." Then sensei sidles up, smiling with one eye – and he's surprised when she frowns and shies away from his touch.

"Sensei might be a bit of a weirdo, but he wouldn't hurt us!" Naruto, so sensitive to these emotions, jumps in to defend him. Kakashi has already recovered, one gloved finger embarrassedly scratching his masked cheek.

Sasuke even makes a sound of assent, "We all grew to trust him," only for Kakashi-sensei to chuckle. "Maa, I'm glad to have a vote of confidence from the two of you. Sensei is a bit hurt to see that even subconsciously, Sakura-chan doesn't trust me."

Sakura knows, he's watching as she allows her eyes to flick to look at Sasuke, and she comments, "We have met before, Hatake-san. And you were late."

Naruto brightens and immediately concurs that sensei was very late, and all the time so.

"I promised you that I would be there if you called for me," he says in reply, as if he's not apologising for being late when responding to the Uchiha Massacre. Sakura hums.

"I will speak to Raikage-sama. Let's go home, Naruto-chan, Sasuke-chan."


"They said that that the Yamanaka clan would be able to check my mind and help me with any mental blockage that appears. My childhood friends, my teammates, also count among them a young seals expert, and he has mentioned to me that mind seals can be lifted." She looks at the Raikage calmly as he interweaves his fingers, each twice the thickness of her own and grunts.

"Other than this prospect of getting back my memories, I suppose if Konoha played some part in tampering with my memories, would it be too much if I asked for you to think of me well?"

A-sama snorts, "A bold one you are. Backhandedly asking me if I have tampered with your mind, yet also asking me for asylum as a just-in-case. My answer is still yes, and I'm sure Nouzen has already mentioned. Are you certain that you trust them? I would hate to see you again in the future only for you to think that I ordered you kidnapped or even dare I say it, have your mind tampered with things as finicky as seals?"

She laughs at his words, at her thoughts and at the whole situation, "Raikage-sama, if memory seals were a success, Konoha with both sealing experts and genjutsu experts will be the ones to capitalise on them. I wouldn't be able to differentiate then."

(She doesn't know if they will take her warning clearly. But they will probably know if in a few months they try something like this again.)

Raikage-sama is an emotional man, but he is by no means an idiot. Since Konoha didn't press him for kidnapping her, he should be cautious enough.

(Sakura considers again, whether she will regret leaving now. Tsunade-sama did agree to this plan, but only her letter of complaint later on would complete the mission, right?)

As it is, she's spent a month too long away from their bloodline research. And Kumo has spent enough time on their memory seal that it would hurt to discard all the research. So she bows and thanks him for the hospitality. She gives him her best smile like they've concluded a deal and A-sama's blond moustache twitches and the crease on his forehead darkens before he sighs.

On the journey back home, Sakura has to deal with how to play this for her team since she does have her memories. Maybe if memory alteration seals are now feasible, they wouldn't laugh if she said she lived once.

The truth, being stranger than fiction.


Thanks for stopping by today, and we complete 200k words. Let me know your thoughts in the reviews, I reply them just before I next update :)

Kayo