~Sakura, age 12~
Konoha was about how she imagined it would be, Blue skies, greenery everywhere, and smiling faces that seemed to be far away from the reality of the world. Jiraiya was smiling brightly as they entered and grabbed her hand as he rambled on about all of the amazing stops and the shops they could go to before he was pulling her into a weapons shop and she rolled her eye with a fond smile as he bought her a plethora of new weapons to put in her pouch and a sharpener for her katana. Getting her new mesh shirts and her favorite baggy pants.
"And after the Ramen stand we can go to the monument and after that we can-"
"Jiraiya!" He stalled at the man calling out to him and smiled slightly pulling Sakura a little closer.
"Minato." He greeted with a smile.
"Is that," Minato grinned when he saw Sakura. "Sakura-chan, you've grown into quite the beautiful young lady." She eyed him suspiciously before looking up at her dad.
"Sakura, this is my old student, Minato Namikaze, he's the Hokage."
"I met you when you were just a baby.' He smiled and Sakura nodded in respect.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Hokage-sama." He smiled in slight endearment as she bowed her head respectfully.
"Oh Sakura-chan no need to be so formal," He chuckled, "You're part of the family after all." She frowned, confused and looked to her dad. "Your dad is my son's godfather." She blinked and nodded.
"Oh."
"So Sakura are you planning on joining the academy?" She tilted her head in confusion.
"Why would I? I already know how to fight." Jiraiya ruffled her hair with a roll of his eyes.
"The reason people join the academy is so they can graduate and become a ninja." She frowned.
"But I am a ninja." He sighed.
"I mean a ninja with a paying job tied to their home." She still looked fairly confused.
"Konoha isn't my home. This is my first time being here." Minato held back the frown and Jiraiya nodded.
"I know."
"So I assume being tied to a village means that traveling when you want is out of the question and once you get to the higher ranks you're basically trapped in the village because of confidentiality reasons until you get a mission that lets you out of the village. Am I correct?" Sakura inquired looking at Minato who chuckled almost nervously.
"Well that's not quite-" she rolled her eye and shook her head.
"I apologize sir but that wouldn't be the life for me."
"Sakura," She looked down at the stern tone. "That was very rude." She shrugged eye still down.
"I was being truthful." He sighed.
"We'll talk about it later. For now why don't you go explore. I need to talk to Minato about something." Sakura nodded and he ruffled her hair. "I'll meet you at the hotel." She nodded.
"Okay... see you later."
Sakura sighed and walked through the streets of the village beginning to despise the cheery atmosphere more and more. It was like the entire village was covered in this shroud of ignorance. Everyone was so blissfully happy, even the ninja that she saw. No one had their guard up and it was almost sickening to her how everyone fell willingly into the false safety. Everything around her just felt suffocating. Sickening. She hated it all. These people in their safe little walls that had no clue what the real world was like. Her breathing was beginning to get shallow and she went toward the trees as fast as she could. Coming upon a clearing away from people and taking a shaky breath.
Sickening isn't it? She closed her eyes just breathing calmly before she nodded.
"It is..."
'Neh Sakura?' Sakura sighed.
"Yes Inner?"
'Do you think we'll end up stuck in a place like this? Dad seemed to like it a lot."
"I... I don't know..."
'Okay... I hope not...' Sakura sighed.
"Yeah... I hope not as well..."
'Neh Saku?'
"What?"
'Wanna spar?' Sakura nodded after a moment.
"That... yeah." holding the hand signs to make a clone before she modified it last minute and an exact clone of her appeared, the only difference being the dark red eyes and the tattoo on her forearm that read 'Inner.' Inner grinned and cracked her knuckles.
"You're going down Sakura-chan." Sakura felt herself relax at the familiarity and smiled challengingly.
"Bring it Inner."
Jiraiya sighed as he leaned against the wall in Minato's office.
"Well... Sakura has certainly grown." Jiraiya nodded in agreement with Minato.
"She has, I almost wish she was able to grow in a normal civilian life but..." he heaved a sigh very much showing his old age. For a moment he was lost in thought before he looked at Minato. "I need a favor." Minato raised a brow leaning back in his chair motioning him to continue.
A boy sat down enjoying the warm sun. Occasionally he would sip at his tea as he focused on repressing his chakra to that of a common forest animal. He was enjoying the small amount of peace he managed to get for himself. It wasn't often that he was free of responsibility. Even as young as he was, there was a lot expected of him. He sighed in content, which was very quickly interrupted by someone crashing through the trees with a loud curse before she stopped herself her feet digging into the ground as she did.
"You bitch!" She growled out swinging a katana in her hand before she leaped forward clashing swords with her clone. The boy frowned in thought. Maybe... a clone... but they're both bleeding... the 'clone' chuckled before she pushed the other back.
"Oh so immature." Kicking her and sending her flying across the training ground breaking her momentum when she slammed into a tree causing it to shatter. "Still not enough power to backup those words? Inner-chan." She snarked with a satisfied grin. Then the one he now knew as Inner shot forward from the debris and slashed the katana at her and the girl did something he didn't expect. She disappeared. Inner growled in frustration.
"Dammit Sakura! You know that shit ain't fair!" With movements he could barely track Inner was kicked into the ground breath being knocked out of her. Coughing and trying to push herself up before she was slammed into the ground again. The boy was fairly intrigued at the fight before she was just held to the ground, Katana in her back as the other leaned her body weight against it.
"You done Inner?" Inner grumbled at the smug tone before she disappeared in a puff of smoke and Sakura sheathed her katana chuckcling before she walked back where she kicked Inner through the trees. The boy, yet intrigued, was not intrigued enough to move from his spot in the shade. He watched her before she disappeared and he promptly resumed his meditating. He could tell that this was certainly going to be an interesting year.
Sakura walked back to her pack and pulled it back onto her back. She looked up at the sky and sighed before she walked toward the hotel they were going to be staying at. The pinkette hoped it wasn't for too long, though she knew this place was important to her father so she would ignore her annoyance of it. She took in the village as she walked back through it, regarding everything with a weary gaze. Sakura still couldn't tell if those smiles were practised or real, and it unnerved her. Pausing as her eyes passed over a flower shop. Looking into her pocket briefly before she walked inside. The strong natural fragrances hitting her nose and causing her to relax as she walked further inside. Going to the small planters and smiling when she found what she needed. Carefullying gathering the begonia into a bag before she went to the counter looking for the tennant. Looking at the bell and ringing it before she heard a small crash and curse in the back.
"Ino! Go check the counter for me!"
"Okay mom!" A platinum blonde walked around the corner before she smiled at Sakura and went to the register.
"Just the Begonia's?" Sakura nodded.
"Yes." Ino smiled at her as she began ringing her up.
"What are they for?"
"Begonia's can be used to flush out toxins if they're utilized right. I have a poison I need to create an antidote for." Ino blinked and slowly nodded.
"Oh... that's, cool." Sakura shrugged, handing her the money she owed.
"Thank you." she said as Ino wrapped the flowers to keep the bundle together.
"So are you a medic?" Sakura shook her head.
"I...it's a hobby more than anything." Ino nodded.
"I've just never seen you around and you look a little young to be a ninja." She shrugged.
"I don't hail from Konoha." Ino blinked.
"Oh where are you from?"
"Ino don't pry so much. It's rude." An older woman with the same platinum blonde hair walked around the corner carrying a box before it was set on the counter. "Did you get everything you needed?" Her smile was so warm and trusting it caused Sakura to shift backwards slightly and let a practiced smile grace her lips and she nodded.
"Yes thank you." Before she turned and walked out of the flower shop as quickly as she could without it seeming rude. With a breath of relief she walked down the street toward her hotel. Once she got inside she set her things on the side of the bed and started working on the antidote for her most recent creation. The day went by in a blur as she began crushing the herbs and boiling water to soak them together. Almost as if in a trance, before it was broken by the door opening. Sakura looked up and waved at her dad before she went back to the green liquid she had made.
"Hey Sakura, can we talk?" Sakura frowned at the serious tone before she set down the vial and turned to him.
"Yeah, what is it?" Curiosity was written over her features as she waited for him to speak. He sighed and walked to her sitting on the edge of the bed.
"How would you feel about staying here for a while?" She stalled and blinked before she looked at him fully. Looking down after a moment in thought as she tried to contain herself.
"How long?" Jiraiya sighed and scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.
"I uh... Enrolled you into the ninja academy." Hot anger swept through her before she clenched her fists until her knuckles were white as she tried to contain herself. Nodding tensely after a moment of thought.
"So for the foreseeable future then." He heaved a long sigh and rubbed his eyes.
"You deserve a place you can put down roots at."
"And that place has to be here?" She almost spat causing Jiraiya to straighten.
"Saku this was the safest option-"
"For who? Because I can take care of myself." He looked down.
"Sakura. It's about time that you settled somewhere. And Konoha is where you were born."
"Well I don't want to stay here! You didn't even ask me, you just made the decision like my input didn't matter!" She snapped standing and glaring at him.
"Sakura, your input does matter but this is about your safety so I made the best decision I could think of."
"And what, you're going to just leave me here while you continue to travel the world?" He looked down, staying silent causing Sakura to flinch. "You... you're actually going to leave me here, aren't you?" Hurt written over her face causing Jiraiya to stand and go to her scooping her up in his arms and holding her tightly against him kissing her head.
"I... I need to protect you Sakura, I need to do my job and I need to protect my daughter." She clutched onto him like her life depended on it.
"No, no that's not fair, that's not fair you can't, you said you wouldn't leave me that's not fair."
"I'm sorry, I love you so much Sakura." Tears began gathering at the corner of her eyes
and she buried her face against his chest as her shoulders shook.
"I... no, you can't leave me, please, please don't leave me." He kissed her head and rubbed her back soothingly just holding her against him.
"I'll send you letters as often as I can, I promise." Sakura cried, clutching onto her father until she passed out from exhaustion. He scooped her up and tucked her into bed kissing her forehead before he pushed himself onto the windowsill and took out his pipe. Just watching the night pass slowly by as he kept watch to make sure Sakura slept soundly.
The next morning, Sakura dressed for the day before Jiraiya was leading her to the academy. Where she was told, she would go through an evaluation to be sure that she was ready for the academy graduation. The pinkette wasn't expecting much from it, with how blissfully ignorant this place was she figured it'd be a rather simple series of tests. Jiraiya ruffled her hair much to her annoyance before he smiled softly down at her as she fixed it and stuck her tongue out at him. Once they made it to the training grounds Minato smiled at her and waved. She almost ignored him as her eyes went over the four other people standing next to him. Glancing up to the trees at the ninja who paused in surprise at her noticing them. Sakura looked back at Minato and raised her hand in greeting.
"Good morning Sakura-chan!" He grinned at her going to ruffle her hair and she sidestepped him.
"So what am I doing?" Minato pouted at being disregarded causing the other ninja around him to roll their eyes.
"Just a few tests to make sure you are qualified for the graduation in two days." She sighed but nodded stuffing her hands in her pocket.
"Okay..." Jiraiya sighed and ruffled her hair.
"She's ready for the tests." Minato nodded slowly before he looked at the three others and back to Sakura. He smiled brightly and leaned down slightly.
"They're really nothing too difficult Sakura-chan so don't worry." She looked up at him almost offended before she pushed back the scoff and smiled at him.
"Thank you for the reassurance, Hokage-san." Jiraiya rolled his eyes, being one of the only to understand that her response was an insult.
"Alright Sakura-chan, so the first thing we'll evaluate is if you can produce a clone correctly." Sakura cocked her head with a raised brow.
"Wait... really?" Minato smiled.
"If it's too difficult don't worry you can-"
"It's not. Too difficult. It's ludicrously easy. How the hell do you expect your ninja to be able to face actual dangers when your recruitment requirements are below the basics of what five year olds in other regions learn. It's-"
"Sakura." She looked down, closing her mouth.
"Yeah. right. Sorry." Putting her hands up in the correct signs and creating two perfect clones. "There. Anything else?" Minato looked at her and glanced at the other ninja.
"Um... well just... some more standard testing... Basic ninjutsu, Chakra control, and a demonstration of your most advanced ninjutsu." The pinkette cocked her head before she nodded.
"Okay. What's next?" After a few simple tests Sakura tested her chakra control. She was unsure of what exactly they wanted to see, so with a sigh and extended her scalpels slowly from her fingers. Reaching forward she sliced through a branch of the tree easily. Looking at the rest of the ninja almost asking if that's what they wanted to see. Minato looked to Jiraiya with a small amount of uncertainty. Masking the uncertainty when he looked to Sakura and smiled.
"That's... amazing Sakura-chan, how someone so young can already control chakra so well." Sakura shrugged.
"Seen younger kids doing more skilled things. Only reason it's surprising to you is because of how lax the training here is." Jiraiya sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, knowing Sakura wouldn't be changing her views anytime soon.
"Right... here we like to make sure the children that decide to take this path, are actually able to have a childhood along with it.' Sakura rolled her eyes.
"Children that choose this path. Are no longer children. If you baby them, they will die. And that blood will be on your hands for not preparing them enough for the real world." They looked at eachother and Jiraiya sighed.
"Sakura," The girl in mention looked down at the stern tone from her father. "Some villages do things differently than what you're used to... at least try out their ways of things before you scoff at it." Sakura sighed and nodded.
"Fine. Sorry. You said my most advanced Ninjutsu?" Minato nodded and Sakura sighed. "I can't give you a demonstration of that." A frown came to the Hokages lips.
"And why is that?"
"Because it would be a waste of power. My most advanced Ninjutsu is something that I will only use in... extreme cases."
"And what is it?"
"Something that I don't really feel like sharing, Let's settle for something easy." Sakura walked over to the water, hand signs weaving before a giant dragon sprung forth from it. Wrapping around itself in the air in elegant powerful movements before she dispersed it and the water fell. Looking back at them she stuffed her hands into her pockets. "That good enough." The ninja around her seemed surprised, almost awestruck. If that was easy to her, then what was her most powerful move? Though the only thought through Minato's mind was that he knew exactly which team he wanted her placed into.
"You can't be serious. With him? He's never passed a team and you expect-"
"Either it will give them humility or his guidance will cause them to move farther than any of us could ever hope to. I don't see any down side to either option." Iruka almost deflated at the Hokages sound argument.
"But Hokage-sama, you know as much as I do that Naruto is a sensitive child. If he's failed I-"
"They won't fail. I have confidence in the team I've placed together." Iruka rubbed the bridge of his nose in exhaustion but nodded.
"Of course, Hokage-sama."
Sakura yawned, stretching her arms out as she walked with Jiraiya through town. She had passed her exam, which came as no surprise to her. The graduation came next week so now she was stuck in an awful waiting period trailing after her father as he showed her around.
"So... where are we going again?"
"We're having dinner with the Hokage and his family. His wife Kushina and their son Naruto. He's your age so you should get along well." He smiled down at her and patted her head. Sakura sighed stuffing her hands into her pockets.
"Yeah... I'm sure we will..." A strange feeling overtook her and she paused in her walk, looking briefly up at the stars as a frown graced her lips. Jiraiya stopped and cocked his head.
"You alright?" His words jostling her from her thoughts she looked back to him.
"I... yeah, I'm fine. Just... had a weird feeling," She sighed and rubbed her eyes. "It's probably nothing." Jiraiya nodded, setting his hand protectively on her shoulder. Yet keeping the smile on his face as they walked, trying to keep her in good spirits. Despite knowing that feeling wasn't nothing, Sakura took comfort in her father's warm smile. A hand going to her useless eye, feeling the pain pulse as it usually did when she felt this off. Jiraiya shifted, worry crossing his face.
"Is... is it hurting again?" His voice full of concern caused Sakura to let her hand drop back to her side and smile up at him. She shook her head and ignored the pulsing.
"It's fine dad. Just itches." He nodded, taking the answer even if he knew it was a lie. Once they got to the Hokage's residence, Jiraiya knocked on the door. After a moment it opened and a blonde haired boy looked up at them.
"Who're you? Wait, are you the old man dad told me about? Are you here for dinner? What's with that thing on your face?" Naruto pointed to the cloth over Sakura's eye causing her to flinch the slightest bit.
"Naruto! Stop being so rude and invite our guests inside." A beautiful red haired woman came to the door with a welcoming smile.
"Jiraiya, good to see you, and you," Leaning down to Sakura's level, her hands resting on her knees, "Must be Sakura-chan. I'm Kushina, Naruto's mom." Sakura nodded.
"Uh... yeah, nice to meet you." Kushina smiled.
"Why don't you two come in?" Jiraiya nodded with a smile and Sakura followed him through the door. Her father started talking to Kushina and the Hokage and she shifted near the end of the hall unsure of what to do. Tensing when the blonde boy went up to her and grinned.
"I'm Naruto! Your hair is really weird." Sakura raised a brow, unaware of her hand on her weapons pouch.
"I... I'm Sakura." He grinned and gave her a thumbs up.
"Nice to meet you Sakura-chan! We're gonna be really good friends. Believe it!" His voice was so loud and she had the smallest realisation that this boy would die very quickly if he was ever released into the real world. She could see however, the slightest bit of exaggeration in his movements. Then it made sense to her why he was so boisterous. His father was the Hokage, his mother a formidable ninja as well. Being loud and annoying and over the top was probably the only way he was ever noticed. She cocked her head the slightest bit before she shrugged.
"I'm going to be stuck here for a while, but that doesn't mean we'll be friends." He frowned.
"Stuck here? Whadda mean stuck here? Konoha's the greatest! Believe it!" She sighed, knowing she was going to get nowhere with this. Heading inside when her father called her over.
"Why don't you go and help Kushina with the rest of the dinner?" She frowned and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Why? Because I'm a woman?" He paused and looked about ready to recoil.
"I-No I just meant- Sakura-" She rolled her eyes and walked past him toward the kitchen grabbing his hand and pulling him with her before she shoved him into the kitchen.
"How about you help her." Before she turned around and walked over to the table sitting down. Minato blinked in surprise before he chuckled and shook his head.
"You definitely have him wrapped around your finger Sakura-chan." She shrugged and looked around the table before she sighed and stood. Looking to Naruto she rolled her eyes before she looked up to Minato.
"Should we set the table?" He nodded with a smile and led her over to the tableware. Grabbing plates and utensils before Minato and her began setting the table. Naruto deciding he could do it the best, grabbed a large stack of bowls. Way too much for just the five of them, and walked to the table. Minato had laughed and shook his head.
"And what do you plan on doing with the rest of the bowls Naruto?" The boy in question frowned and cocked his head in confusion before Minato ruffled his hair. "Go take the bowls back, no Naruto just the extra ones not the ones you already put down." He chuckled and Naruto ran down the hall to the cabinet. Minato looked to Sakura and sighed.
"Sakura-chan... I know you would rather leave the village and go with your father," He began and Sakura looked up to him, eyes cold and harsh. He paused for a moment and took a breath. "Kushina and I will do everything we can to make sure your stay here is enjoyable. You can finally take it easy, relax, play with other children-" He swore he saw a flash of red across her emerald eyes and she almost barred her teeth.
"I. Am not. A child. Hokage-san, I am only staying here to honor my fathers wishes, nothing more, I have no allegiance to this village, or to you," She glanced at the doorway to the kitchen before looking back at him. "Once my father is done with whatever traveling he's decided he can't bring me on, I will be leaving and going with him."
Oh I love it when you get all fiery like that on figures of authority, let me out to play, ne Sakura-chan? Ignoring the teasing voice in her head Sakura put a smile on her face once her father and Kushina entered the room.
"We set the table." She said cooly and Jiraiya smiled, ruffling her hair affectionately.
"Thank you Sakura-chan." Kushina smiled warmly. She nodded and tried to ignore the look Minato was giving her before he smiled at his wife and kissed her cheek.
"Thank you for making dinner." Once they were sitting and eating Sakura was silent through most of the dinner until Kushina started talking to her.
"So Sakura-chan, I heard you passed all of the graduation tests successfully?" She shifted and shrugged.
"It wasn't that difficult, the tests you have here are... comically easy." Kushina strained a smile.
"We try our best to make sure everyone in the ninja academy has time to grow and progress in their own way. Without being forced to cram a lot of knowledge in a few years." Sakura shrugged.
"Kirigukra has their students fight to the death for graduation. Konoha's ninja seem rather soft in comparison." Kushina exchanged a look with Minato before she nodded slowly.
"Well... we are in a time of peace, we would rather our children have the chance to be children no matter what path they choose." She rolled her eyes before she shrugged.
"Right, yeah." Jiraiya sighed, knowing her mind wouldn't change on the matter easily. After a fairly awkward dinner Sakura was happy to leave and go back to the hotel. Jiraiya sighed and shook his head once they were walking back, looking down at her.
"Sakura-"
"Yeah yeah, they're your friends and I should be happy and smile and nod even when their ignorant ideas make me want to pull my hair out." He sighed and stopped walking, leaning down in front of her and looking at her seriously.
"Sakura, I have asked Minato if he and Kushina could take you in while I'm gone." She bristled and glared shaking her head.
"No, I said I would do what you want and stay here, but if I am, I want my own place, I'm not staying with them." He sighed and looked down.
"Sakura-"
"No!" She snapped before she looked down, tears gathering in the corner of her eyes, "no... I'm staying like you want me to, I'm not fighting you on that, I'm trying to live with the fact that I'll be able to see you once a year, if that, now just... please," Looking up at him pleadingly. "I don't want to stay with them." He sighed and kissed her head.
"Okay, okay," He sighed and pulled her into his arms hugging her tightly. "I have an apartment here, but you have to promise me, that if you need anything you will go to your neighbor and ask, okay?" Relaxing into her fathers grip she sighed and looked up at him.
"Who's my neighbor?" He smiled and kissed her head before he stood and grabbed her hand despite her slight protest.
"I'll go introduce you, he's a little antisocial so he doesn't go out much besides missions, you living next to him might be a good thing, you can force him to talk to people instead of spending all his time talking to his ninken." Sakura cocked her head before she nodded.
"Okay... when does the graduation ceremony happen?" She asked as she followed her father.
"Should be in a week." She nodded and sighed.
"I'm sorry... I'm trying I just," She looked down, "Everyone here is so... blissfully ignorant. All I see is faces of people that don't know the first thing about hardship and there's so much suffering going on in the world around them and they just," She sighed, "It's unnerving." He sighed and nodded.
"I know it's different here but, these people have witnessed hardship and war, Kushina and Minato almost lost Naruto before he was even born. Now though, Konoha is in a time of peace. It's not that they ignore the hardship going on in the world, they try and see the good things because they have witnessed the bad," He looked down at his daughter. "Sure many of the children here haven't seen any hardship, haven't witnessed war or killing. Have been given the chance to remain children for as long as they can. Because of what their parents, their people, fought for. Minato and Kushina believe in giving them that time, because they never had the chance to do so themselves." Sakura was silent for a long while during their walk before she sighed.
"Okay, I'll give it a chance, I guess." He smiled at her and squeezed her hand gently.
"Thank you."
"I still think that the ones going into this life shouldn't be babied, because that leads to death, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt." He nodded. Getting to an apartment that seemed to be on the ninja side of the village. They went up the stairs and Jiraiaya pointed out his apartment before he went to the one next door and knocked. After a moment there was shuffling inside before the door opened. The man was tall, slim but toned and he had a black cloth mask on his face up to the bridge of his nose. One eye had a long scar going along his forehead and down his cheek. Long silver hair being really the only colorful thing about him. It spiked up in a gravity defying way and swayed slightly as he cocked his head.
"Jiraiya," His silver eyes glanced over her before he looked back to her father. "What can I do for you?"
"I wanted to introduce you to my daughter," The man's eyes widened the slightest bit but he nodded. "Kakashi, this is my daughter Sakura, Sakura, this is Kakashi Hatake." She blinked in slight surprise.
"The copy ninja," Her eyes swept over him like he was a potential threat before she saw no weapons and relaxed the slightest bit. "You have an S-class bounty." He nodded slowly before he glanced at Jiraiya, then looked back to her.
"It's nice to meet you too, Sakura-chan." She blinked before she flushed when she realized what she had done.
"I-I'm sorry, I, nice to meet you, Hatake-san." He almost smiled at the stuttering before he creased his eyes and waved her off.
"You're alright Sakura-chan." Jiraiya smiled at them both.
"Sakura's going to be living in Konoha while I'm gone, I would like it if you could look after her." Kakashi blinked before he looked at the pinkette and back to his old friend.
"I-"
"I don't need a babysitter, he just wants me to have someone to go to if I need anything." Kakashi paused before he nodded.
"Sure." He finally said, slightly unsure of himself. Sakura nodded and inclined her head.
"It was nice to meet you Hatake-san." He nodded.
"Sakura-chan." Jiraiya smiled and nodded.
"Thank you Kakashi." Her father and Kakashi spoke briefly before she was shown around her fathers apartment. Despite him never going there it seemed to be fairly well kept, plants inside still being alive.
"Does he... do the upkeep on the apartment?" Jiraiya shrugged.
"When he can, I told him there was no need but he insisted." She nodded before she sat on the couch. "I'll go get our things. You can stay here and look around." Sakura nodded before her father disappeared in a puff of smoke. Sighing, she laid back on the couch and looked up at the ceiling. She really didn't want to be here, but seeing as she had no choice, she was determined to make the most of it. Eyes closing after a moment and before she knew it she had drifted off to sleep.