Hello, readers! I would just like to say thank you to those who continue to read this story, those who follow it, and especially those who have reviewed it. You all are the life blood of this story. This Fanfic began as a personal endeavor, and I am well aware that it comes pretty much a decade after the main series ended. A few matters of importance: -I decided that I would update every Monday, however I am new to this, so if you'd prefer a different update day, please let me know!

-This story is and was designed to be a sasusaku story but... is anyone interested in an itasaku fic?

Happy reading!

-Peregrine Passage

After collecting Tazuna from the Hokage tower, Naruto let out loud whoops, excited about finally receiving a C ranked mission. Sasuke's face held a barely readable expression of satisfaction. Team 7 packed and raced to meet at the gates in 10 minutes. It only took Sakura 4, including travel, because she knew exactly what to do; she included two weapons pouches, a host of poisoned weapons, soldier pills she knew she wouldn't need, and three changes of clothes. There was no ways she'd be left to shiver in Wave territory again because of something as irrelevant to a shinobi as vanity. However, it was worth noting that under Tsunade's tutelage, Sakura had learned that vanity of the right sort could be motivating. Vanity could be used to enhance the drive to get stronger, the will to dominate. Sakura grabbed her cloak and disappeared from her home, only to re-appear at the main gates. Her teammates arrived not a few minutes after her, and the team departed Konoha for the first time in her new timeline.

As Team 7 and their charge left Konoha and began their journey, everything pretty much unfolded as it had before, though Sakura readied herself when she saw the puddle in the middle of the road, so out of place on a hot day such as that one. No sane shinobi would give the enemies, known as the Demon Brothers, the tactical advantage. She sent a kunai whistling through the air, straight toward the puddle and watched as the two twin shinobi quickly sprang from their hiding spot.

"Did you really think you could fool us with such a simple trick? It hasn't rained for weeks," stated Sakura, arms crossed over her chest.

"Dammit! You little bitch," spat one of the brothers. He raised his arm in concert with his brother, encased in metal as well, and chains shot forward to encircle Sakura. They pulled hard and Naruto and Sasuke watched with horror-stricken eyes as their beloved teammate was torn to shreds in front of them. Cut. Into. Ribbons.

"Sakura-chan!" cried Naruto. Tears were already forming in his eyes and Sasuke looked like a strange combination of shock and calmness.

Sasuke was panicking.

My wife's not weak, announced Sasuke the elder confidently.

"Cha!" yelled Sakura as she emerged from the trees and shunshined under the reaching arms of the first brother aiming for her and sent a chakra laden fist straight into his sternum. Though the focus of the impact would have stayed localized if it had been a regular punch, this was no ordinary hit; Sakura's blow to his chest sent him rocketing and splintering through three tree trunks. He lay still, unconscious but alive. At least one collapsed lung. Broken collarbone… and several internal injuries.

Wounds, fatal; death, imminent.

She whirled around to see her fellows fighting the second Demon Brother. It seemed her combat display had inspired the boys to act earlier, and in greater unison, than in her previous timeline. She couldn't help but smile. Sakura took up a defensive position in front of Tazuna. For Naruto and Sasuke, this was their first, real battle experience. And so far they were doing well but...

Haruno Sakura was getting bored.

Besides, it was time to show her teammates just what to do with the enemy. She flash stepped behind the remaining Demon Brother, avoiding his chains, and delivered a chakra infused roundhouse kick—too quick to avoid and too powerful to block,—to his spine.

The snap of his vertebrae cracked like a whip throughout the air. He instantly went sailing across the clearing, eyes wide with unmoving surprise and agony, and landed with a loud thump. He stayed down. Neither Sasuke nor Naruto could detect breathing coming from the enemy.

"…Sakura… you… did you kill him?" asked Naruto, wide eyed. "I-I mean, I'm so glad you weren't really shredded to pieces by that guy!"

Poor kid, he's terribly overwhelmed, thought Sakura.

Sasuke watched with one brow arched. "You really did hide your abilities during the Academy, didn't you." It was more of a statement than a question.

Sakura shrugged. "It was a simple substitution. Just academy material."

In a moment Sakura would remember forever, Sasuke reached up to her pale cheek and, slowly, with his thumb, wiped away the enemy's blood from her face.

I told you, admonished the elder Uchiha.

Then, smugly, he remarked again: My wife's not weak.

But she isn't our wife anymore. She said she wants nothing to do with us, countered the young clan heir.

Hmmph. Why do you think I am here to help you? You have far too many enemies to deal with them on your own.

Like Itachi? Sasuke could almost hear his older counterpart roll his eyes.

No, you dolt. Men. Other men. They want her, and they'll come in droves. Especially in this timeline, wherein she became much stronger, much quicker. You'll have to watch out for the politically motivated, but even if Sakura did nothing, we would still face this problem. Power attracts power. Just remembering Rock Lee's infatuation with her makes me angry, he rumbled.

Whose infatuation with her? Sasuke snapped.

You'll see. Patience.

"Sasuke…?"

Sasuke realized his hand was lingering on Sakura's cheek; they had been looking at each other silently for a full minute. Sasuke seemed startled when brought back to reality. He retracted his hand quickly and mumbled something about the blood. Sakura awkwardly thanked him.

Kakashi grinned behind his mask. Young love! He thought gleefully. Thank you, Icha Icha gods.

Sakura spoke up to answer Naruto's question. "No, I didn't kill them. Well, I killed one of them. I paralyzed the other. This way, we have someone to question for information but they are no longer a threat as a shinobi. However, I would not have had any problem killing them both since they were fighting to kill, as well… but we weren't their target, were we, Tazuna-san?" She looked at the bridge builder pointedly.

Tazuna's expression was that of a man denying his own guilt. Finally, he eyed the children in front of him and let out a long sigh. "I'm sorry. There was simply no way I could afford a B ranked mission. But I must finish this bridge. The people of the Land of Waves have suffered enough."

Kakashi, who, instead of being the one "torn to shreds" in this timeline, had made himself scarce as he observed his team in action, nodded. The jounin eyed Tazuna with suspicion. "I see. Well, I can't say this is the first time this has happened." Kakashi surveyed his genin team. "We will continue the mission and finish escorting Tazuna to the Land of Waves and protect him until the completion of the bridge. I expect the Hokage will raise the rank of this mission, since our target seems to be attracting his fair share of trouble. On the upside, it means we'll be generously compensated by the Hokage."

By the time attention returned to the first demon brother, he had already chewed and ingested a suicide pill. Everything proceeded evenly from there. At least, that's the way it seemed. When Naruto startled at the presence of a snow rabbit on a sunny day (I mean, how much more obvious could Haku get?), Sakura readied herself for the assault she knew awaited them in just a few moments.

Thick, insidious mist rolled into the clearing, encircling them, and while the boys fought rising panic, Sakura contemplated using their preliminary encounter with Zabuza and Haku to promote teamwork,—more so, than it had done in the past, when Naruto and Sasuke worked together to free Kakashi from Zabuza's water prison jutsu.

In the hazy distance a large and looming figure appeared. He was, to Kakashi and Sakura, instantly recognizable by the shape of his sword; Sakura had also seen, battled, and killed Hoshigaki Kisame, who inherited a similarly priceless and large, though notably more carnivorous, weapon as one of the 7 Great Swordsmen.

I must prevent Suigetsu from obtaining this sword, thought Sakura as she eyed the enormous weapon. It was bigger than Madara's.

Killing intent rolled off the tall, heavy-set silhouette in waves, paralyzing Naruto and it didn't escape Sakura's notice that Sasuke took a slight step back.

Keep your wits about you, boy! This is your second time in a real battle, care to make yourself useful this time? growled Sasuke the elder. The young Uchiha steeled himself and dropped into a defensive position.

Low and quiet, Sakura whispered: "I will confuse and distract him. Make yourselves scarce in the mist. We only stand a chance while Kakashi is alive, so ultimately our best option is to lend him support. While I have his attention,— Sasuke, save your Katon because he's a water type ninja and we are on his home turf, he will smell you,—Naruto, when I give the signal, make as many shadow clones as you can. Sasuke, we need your speed. Your job is to get Kakashi out of immediate danger."

Sasuke raised a brow. "Who is he and how do you know him?"

"Momochi Zabuza, S-class missing ninja. He's in the bingo book! It's in every shinobi store. Now go."

After Kakashi spent long minutes copying the nuke-nin's jutsu, hand sign-for hand sign; from water clone to water clone to water dragon, it seemed they were a perfect match for each other. The moment arrived when Zabuza appeared behind a kneeling, vulnerable Kakashi and yelled: "Ugoku Suirō no Jutsu!"

Sakura's eyes widened. In her previous timeline, Zabuza had used a water prison jutsu which could be broken by causing the caster to move. But Zabuza hadn't said, "Water Prison Jutsu," he had said, "Moving Water Prison Jutsu." Sakura had encountered it in one of her many battles with Kisame. It was a much more difficult situation than her teammates could handle.

This is different than my last timeline! But how could I have caused this change? Kaguya?

I am not sure, young one. It is possible that this timeline isn't entirely the same as your previous one. We are, after all, not in the same universe as we were not long ago.

Sakura made a choice. Since the timeline was already diverting, there was no need to hold back.

"Run, Sakura! Find Sasuke, Naruto and protect Tazuna,—" yelled Kakashi as the water prison formed around him; the shifting waters appeared to have cut off the sound of Kakashi's voice and his access to oxygen.

Sakura flash stepped, appearing just out of reach of the missing nin's arms.

"Za-bu-za," she taunted with a wild, almost maniacal smile. She stared at him with a carefully calculated expression, as if the missing-nin was simply fodder for the strong: a 12 year old, pink-haired genin. Pathetic, her shining, wide eyes seemed to say, goading him. Sakura calculated that she had about 3-5 minutes before Kakashi fell unconscious without oxygen, and at most 11 minutes before brain death or severe neurological damage.

What's going on? Sasuke wondered as he noticed Sakura had changed her plan when she flashed a signal his and Naruto's way. Why is she facing him head on?

Because she knows that you and Naruto cannot handle the enemy you face. There was a moment of silence. Do not interfere, just observe. She is the exemplary ninja. During our lifetime, we spent most of our time apart… but I kept tabs on her.

"I'll slice that pretty head of yours clean off," chuckled Zabuza, "though I would much rather have you for some fun first."

Sakura felt a chill run down her spine. Sasuke stiffened. Sakura looked at the missing-nin boldly, ultimately unaffected by his crude remarks. Sakura's chaotic smile narrowed into bitter intelligence and calm perhaps belonging to a goddess.

"That's quite a talent you have there, complimenting me while insulting me at the same time. Or are you too much of an imbecile to have realized that?"

Zabuza raged. "You little brat…!" Dashing forward, he brought his sword down on Sakura in one mighty swoop. Boom sounded as the mighty Kubikiribocho collided with earth. A massive dust cloud arose from the spot, obscuring everyone's view, though Zabuza looked on with satisfaction.

Maybe it's because he is so big, but his movements are slow. He has a sturdy stance though, and he's big, so it will be difficult to mess with his balance…Sakura thought.

Sakura appeared behind Zabuza. "You're too slow." Sakura brought down her weapon and was met with Zabuza's blade, countering his heavy weapon with a kunai reinforced with a chakra filled grip.

She countered Kubikiribocho with a kunai…? What the hell? thought Zabuza.

Sakura flitted away from his reach, to the other side of the battlefield. She spun a kunai around her finger nonchalantly, intending to infuriate her enemy by seeming blasé and giving the appearance that she didn't take him seriously; and the trick worked. Sakura dropped into a completely unique stance she'd developed during her Hokage days. She saw Kakashi's eyes widen with surprise through the water prison. She brought the kunai close to her chest and said, perhaps with a little too much excitement:

"Is it my turn now?"

To everyone's surprise, especially Naruto and Sasuke, Sakura chose a full frontal assault. They had gotten Sakura's emergency signal minutes before, but they hadn't forgotten what she'd said about teamwork. Sasuke felt desperation race through him. He watched as the two shinobi circled one another like apex predators stalking their prey. Sakura faced Zabuza as she came to a halt. They seemed to have reached a mutual understanding.

One on one, may the best shinobi win, she thought in a flurry of movement.

You're quick but…! Zabuza thrust Kubikiribocho forward. Sakura bounded towards him fearlessly.

No! His sword has too long of a reach! thought Sasuke frantically.

Wrong. Watch, counseled his elder. And wait for the moment to strike. Use your otherwise unoccupied teammate to help Sakura when the moment is right.

Kakashi, Sasuke, Naruto, Haku (bound in the shadows) and Zabuza watched as Sakura tapped the tip of the mighty sword, before she slid across it's surface. She drove a kunai into Zabuza's open palm, where it stayed, before flash stepping away.

Zabuza looked at the kunai lodged in his hand and cackled. "You might be fast, but all you know how to do is wave that little kunai around. A bite from a rabbit would hurt more than this."

Sakura grinned.

Zabuza continued, albeit a little put off by the kunoichi's unchanging smugness: "And now you have no weapon. I'll crush you like,—ahhhh!" Zabuza cried out as his left arm throbbed. Zabuza froze as he took a look at his left arm.

"Didn't I tell you? You're too slow."

Zabuza took account of the series of more than eight kunai sticking out of his arm. Rivulets of blood ran a river down but that wasn't what hurt the most. He snapped his attention toward the pink-haired 12 year old girl. Zabuza lurched and cried out as the pain increased dramatically.

"I've sealed all the pressure points in your left arm; neither blood nor chakra nor nature energy can move through your arm. Try wielding your sword like that." Sakura stated in a matter of fact way.

Sakura had disabled Zabuza's free arm. If there was a moment for teamwork, this was it.

"Naruto, let's go! We need to retrieve Kakashi while she fights Zabuza!" hissed Sasuke.

As Zabuza was contemplating his options, Sakura saw her chance.

"Boys, strike when I do!" she roared, short, pink locks moving with her bold instruction; a goddess of the battlefield.

In a moment of glorious synchronicity, perhaps their first as a team in this timeline, Sakura shunshined underneath Zabuza's reach once again and landed a bone-shattering, organ-exploding punch as Naruto's clones and Sasuke, light on his feet as always, collected a gasping Kakashi. Warily, he looked toward their charge and saw that Sakura had left a shadow clone behind to guard Tazuna at the beginning of the battle.

Sakura's eyes narrowed as senbon pierced the skin on the felled Zabuza's neck.

I didn't kill him because he's going to die anyway from the poison on those kunai and I thought I could help the team progress by giving them more time in battle… so this must be Haku attempting to recover Zabuza's body. Things will be different this time around, and I won't sacrifice the growth of my teammates, either. I will fight for a better future. Naruto and Sasuke have their own advantages in battle, and it is their destiny to gain strength in this world as they grow, no matter what I do. Plus, I have a mission to complete and it can't be done by green, untested genin.

A masked Haku leapt between Sakura and Zabuza.

"A Hunter-nin…?" wondered Kakashi aloud, still a little confused and suffering from severe chakra exhaustion.

"Yes, I am here to deal with his body." Haku nodded curtly and began to hoist the unconscious Zabuza onto his shoulder. Sakura took a minute to appreciate his natural strength and dedication. The boy truly loved Zabuza. However, this encounter did not spell his end. Sakura had other plans for Haku.

"Hold on a minute there, Hunter-san. Isn't it protocol to dispose of bodies on site?" said Sakura, arms crossed and eyes gleaming, viridian slits. "If I'm not mistaken, The Land of Waves does not have a ninja village. Yet Zabuza is clearly a water jutsu user and a missing nin, and you appear to be a hunter-nin. So, let me ask you this, on whose behalf are you recovering his body?" Sakura's calm voice narrowed into a sharp, incisive interrogation.

The boy put up his hands slowly, as if to signal peace and goodwill. "I am here on behalf of Kirigakure."

Kakashi briefly wondered groggily again at Sakura's deft use of knowledge beyond her years. But she was right on all accounts. He shook his water-logged head. He had been severely compromised before the prolonged stay in the water prison.

"No," Sakura pronounced. "Like hell you are."

Go. You and Naruto must fight the boy in order to gain your own strength. Tell Sakura to heal Kakashi and that you and the Kyuubi boy will defeat Haku.

So his name is Haku. Did you encounter him in your lifetime?

Yes, but the situation was vastly different to what it was then. Oh, by the way, she lied to you. Sakura was being honest when she said she had lived before, but not when she said it was a different lifetime. To be precise, it was a different timeline.

…So, we are still married?

…Yes, in a sense. Now fight like your life depends on it, because it does. Show Sakura you can protect her. And for Kami's sake, activate your Sharingan.

Sasuke grabbed Naruto's collar. "It's our turn, come on." Naruto composed himself rather quickly. He seemed to agree. Neither of them liked being left out of the action.

"Sakura!" called Sasuke. The boys appeared at her side. "You heal Kakashi—I know you can,—and Naruto and I will take this boy." At the look of apprehension in her eyes, he added, "teamwork, right?"

Sakura nodded slowly. She grabbed Kakashi around the waist and retreated to the sidelines of the battlefield. She began to heal his compromised lungs. Green chakra glowed around her palm as she healed wounds deep and shallow. The Kubikiribocho had always been a lustful sword, drawing blood at every opportunity. Clarity returned to Kakashi's gaze. Sakura briefed him on the situation, and she assured him staying on the sidelines was the best thing to do. Sakura knew this was an enormous chance for Naruto and Sasuke in terms of the development of their power and prowess as Shinobi. Kakashi watched and Sakura looked on with an eagle-eyed stare. As soon as she sensed the Kyuubi's chakra and the rush of chakra to Sasuke's eyes, she moved. She didn't want to see them suffer, just progress. She also wanted to show her teammates that they could count on her.

Sakura leapt forward and, knowing the special strength of Haku no Hijutsu - Makyō Hyōshō, put extra chakra into her fist and grinned as the ice mirror shattered under the force of her swing. Haku was thrown rather violently out of the mirror he was inhabiting. Sakura, landing in the middle of the dome, saw a fallen, red-eyed, senbon-riddled Sasuke and Naruto, surrounded by orange chakra which surrounded his body in tentacle-like tails.

"Good job, boys! I'll take it from here; after all, we don't need to kill him." She turned her attention to Haku. "Haku: look here, Zabuza is dead. No, it's not because you put him in a death-like state with your senbon, but my poisoned kunai will already have delivered a fatal dose of compounded potassium to his body, thus causing cardiac arrest, and it's long past the time for resuscitation. Besides, only rarely does resuscitation outside hospitals work without a medic nin; only 7% of the time, in fact. Anyways, you don't have to die here. Go. You are a tool no longer. Live your own life. However, I have one stipulation: if a man named Suigetsu comes looking for that sword… Do not, under any circumstances, sell it to him."

Haku, whose mask had been discarded in the fight, looked towards Zabuza in alarm. What the pink-haired shinobi said was true. Zabuza was really dead. If that was true… He met the pink haired girl's stare. A single tear fell from young Haku's delicate eyes, another catching on his long eyelashes. Zabuza had been his reason for living,—he sensed this girl knew that,—and now she was asking him to live, to live without Zabuza…

Be free, ushered her viridian eyes silently. He didn't remember deciding to, but suddenly, he turned tail and ran, taking Kubikiribocho with him as he went. Sakura did not pursue. Instead, she started administering first-aid to her teammates.

He is probably going to sell that weapon, since it is extremely unsuited to his fighting style. It'll probably end up in the hands of another missing-nin, though hopefully not in the hands of Suigetsu. Reminds me of Kisame, wielder of the great broadsword called Samehada, though she hadn't dealt with him in this timeline. Well, I killed him once. I can do it again, thought Sakura a little grimly. Her battle with Kisame had been a long, drawn out and bloody affair, ending in the missing-nin's decapitation by his own hungry sword, and Sakura's merciless swing.

Sakura's clone led Tazuna out from their hiding place and rejoined the team. Sakura didn't need to bother with Naruto, since he had his own regenerative abilities, so she turned her attention towards Sasuke. He wasn't in any mortal danger, she noticed.

It's almost as if Haku wasn't trying to kill him… she thought.

Deftly, she removed the senbon and healed his wounds methodically. When Sasuke registered Sakura's body, so close to his in her attempt to heal, he almost, almost blushed. His head was in her lap.

Ah, it's nice here, he thought weakly. His inner elder chuckled.

By the time Sakura had patched up her team, they were as good as new. Sakura suggested they continue and they all looked at her as if she was insane.

"Sakura-chan! We need time to rest!" cried Naruto.

"I hate to agree with the Dobe, but even Kakashi-sensei is nearly unconscious,—" started Sasuke.

"—fine! But consider the situation, at least. We're genin on a mission of—by way of estimation,—A or B rank, with cargo (Tazuna) whose enemies included the Demon Brothers and Momochi Zabuza, an S-class missing-nin! Stay on your guard. We don't know who else is after Tazuna."

Sakura sighed.

"Go set up camp," she told the boys.

Kakashi watched from his place, leaning against a nearby tree. Sakura not only had fantastic, no, phenomenal, battle instincts, but she had excellent leadership qualities as well. The boys only nodded, surely thinking over their battle with Zabuza and Haku,—what they had done, what they had not done; what they had gained,-battle experience,- and what they had lost,-a little bit of their humanity.

"I'll take first watch," declared the pink-haired shinobi.

Sakura's eyes peered into the dark night. Years of training kept her on high alert, and her ability to control chakra at will allowed her to cloak her presence completely or ferret out any enemy, even if they were demons hidden in the mist. After all, she was extremely sensitive to the nuances of chakra and was a genjutsu type at her core. As Sakura kept watch, she wondered what to do with the new time given to her and when Kaguya's powers would make themselves known in her. She would continue to act boldly, but this new time together, and with Naruto and Sasuke's recent growth in power, they could do some seriously helpful training.

Power means nothing if you know not how to wield it, thought Sakura. I have to get stronger, too. Sorry boys; this time around, I'm taking a piece of the action.

Sakura sighed. With a small smile, she called out into the clearing: "Come out, Kakashi."

The jounin appeared before her with a brow raised. "That's Kakashi-sensei to you, Sakura-chan."

"Ah, yes. Forgive me, Kakashi-sensei." Her soft smile grew. "Did you need something?"

"You know you've got some explaining to do at the end of this mission, right? I'll have to put everything in my report to the Hokage." Kakashi shifted, observing how this information would affect the kunoichi.

Sakura looked him dead in the eye and then smirked. "That's exactly what I thought you'd say. Rest assured, my loyalty to Konoha is unwavering. I'm looking forward to it, Kaka-sensei."

Kakashi was a little stumped to say the least. Shouldn't she be a little intimidated? Instead, she seemed… familiar. Nostalgic. Fond.

"I told you to call me,—"

"Mhm." She giggled. "I think you should rest, sensei. Your wounds from our battle today are not to be taken lightly."

Well, until I healed them, that is! thought Sakura.

Kakashi sighed and trudged off to his sleeping bag. Though Sakura had healed his physical wounds, he still suffered from extreme chakra exhaustion. What a team he had. A jinchūriki, Sharingan user, and a… who knows what? He knew, he could see, that Haruno Sakura had much, much more to show. She was always playing her cards close to her chest, and she never showed more ability than she had to… but her display while fighting Zabuza…Those viridian eyes held more secrets than the Sharingan or Byakugan ever could. While they played checkers, she played Shogi.

Meanwhile, Sasuke wrestled with his own thoughts.

Congratulations on gaining access to your Sharingan. It will be of infinite benefit to you in the future, both in achieving your goals and… altering them.

Altering my goals? Sasuke wondered.

Yes. In the past, I made many errors under a dangerous misconception about the Uchiha massacre and Itachi. You aren't ready to hear the truth yet, though it isn't because of the reason you're contemplating.

You mean it isn't because my hate isn't strong enough?

Our whole family was killed, so I understand that you had to feel something, and hate is an easily accessible emotion. In the fury of grief, only the dream of revenge soothes the wounded heart. But, believe me when I say it is exactly the opposite. It is our bonds that make us stronger. Sakura attempted to communicate that to you when she bashed your skull in, back in the academy days.

Sasuke recalled the memory with a shiver. He had only ever experienced such effortless defeat from his elder brother. That was the lesson? Teamwork? I suppose she did say that during the bell test.

And in every subsequent battle.

Sasuke thought back and it was true. It was almost as if she were the jounin leading the squad, rather than Kakashi-sensei. A beat of silence. It frustrated him to no end that Sakura's power was orders of magnitude greater than his. And he knew, he knew she would continue her growth.

Perhaps you can grow with her. She is your only chance at happiness. Though she protests, I know she longs to trust you. But in the past, I did something that changed our relationship, our lives, forever; I don't want you to make the same mistake. And don't argue with me. It was a mistake I would take back a hundred times.

An image began to form in Sasuke's mind. No, it was a memory.

It was well into the night on the quiet streets of Konoha.

"You're so annoying, Sakura." Sasuke was a little startled by his own harshness toward Sakura.

The image of Sakura, slightly older, staring at him with wide, innocent eyes under the moonlight in a red qipao dress appeared before him. In the scene, tears streamed down her face as she begged him not to leave the village, or, if it had to be so, she would go with him. He watched Sakura tell him that she loved him with her whole heart. With a start, he saw himself appear behind Sakura—a move he could never pull on her now,—and hit the base of her neck. "Thank you," he said, as he caught her and laid her on a nearby bench. Then, he left the village, slicing through his hitai-ate as he bounded through the forest once summoned by Hashirama.

Sasuke was back at the campsite, free of the grip of memory. He found himself reminiscing about when Sakura had shunshined behind Ino and pulled a similar trick. Should I be flattered…?

No. That would be a mistake. Sasuke's older iteration chuckled. I promise you, the message conveyed by using your lousy way of knocking her enemy out was not positive… but I suppose you can allow yourself a slight sense of satisfaction. After all, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, though the way Sasuke's inner bit off this sentence made younger Sasuke doubt the sincerity of his words.

So we left the village?

In a mad pursuit for power which begins during the chunnin exams, of which you will take part when you return to Konoha. I guarantee, this is when Sakura will be in the most danger. She will throw herself in front of Orochimaru if it means keeping him from planting the cursed seal on you. The seal is the reason you—I— leave the village.

Sasuke could feel the disdain for "Orochimaru" in his elder's voice. Then, as if in a trance, both Sasuke younger and elder said in unison: This is the reality in which I stay.

With a rare note of gentleness, Sasuke the elder said softly, Sleep, child.

Sasuke closed his eyes and succumbed to exhaustion.

...

Sakura shook Sasuke awake gently. It was morning, after all, and he had the middle shift so he caught at least a few hours of sleep. Sasuke looked over at his pink-haired teammate. It looked like she had been up for a few hours. He raised a quizzical brow. Sakura smiled gingerly.

"Can't slack off training just because we're on a mission," she looked so alive, Sasuke observed. Chest rising softly and face flushed, Sakura was the picture of youthful innocence, unless of course, you knew her. Sasuke wondered about her hellacious workout.

See those gloves? And those boots?

Sasuke nodded outwardly. Yes.

Those are weights.

Sasuke's jaw became slightly slack. She had done all that fighting, at that speed, with weights on? How heavy are they? Sasuke demanded.

More than you could handle, boy. More than you could imagine. You'll see one day, she'll face an enemy she can't beat with those weights on. And when she takes them off, you'll see a killing grace you've never witnessed before. But, in general, what you've witnessed is child's play to a shinobi like Sakura. She wasn't just my wife… In my absence she empowered herself in every possible way. She was an ANBU Captain, and perfected many forms of taijutsu. She was like a god, able to summon life and death with those pale fingertips… Inner Sasuke marveled for a moment, before continuing. She is a rare genjutsu type and has an inner determination so strong it can throw off the hold of the Sharingan… that is just the beginning.

Just the beginning?

Yes. I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise, though. A pause. She was very close with Naruto in my timeline. It looks like she plans to hold onto that relationship in this timeline as well.

The dobe? Sasuke's insides squirmed.

Try to see him as a teammate… he will one day become your best friend. The best man at your wedding. Though he favors Sakura now, he eventually finds himself with the shy Hyuuga girl. But we must be careful, because Sakura has already declared that her secondary mission is to find love, and it seems like her criteria is anyone except you.

I have to make her see me in a different way, thought Sasuke. He didn't know where his words came from. But he expressed his innermost desire honestly to the consciousness inside him.

"Alright you three, let's head off. Take up a diamond formation, with Sakura acting as the rear guard, behind Tazuna. She has the best battle instincts. When we arrive at Tazuna's residence, we can begin to train," announced Kakashi as they all wound their sleeping bags into a tight coil.

Team 7 didn't encounter any further interference during the rest of their journey. Along the way, Sakura took greater notice of her surroundings; there was poverty everywhere she looked. Great shinobi she may be, but she wasn't without empathy for those in need. She wished she had the time to help the impoverished children she encountered on the streets; she wanted to do more than just hand out some spare change. The Land of Waves was policed by gangsters and riddled with crime. She recalled Gato with a snarl.

When Team 7 and their charge arrived at Tazuna's residence, the group made themselves comfortable at his insistence. They also met Inari, with whom Naruto formed an immediate, knuckle-headed connection.

Just as in her previous timeline, Kakashi's instruction's began the next morning with the tree walking exercise. Sakura thought wistfully of the bright summer sky during Kakashi's explanation. It was a rare moment of peace for her, one without haunting memories of the past… a single moment of levity in the nightmarish existence that was Haruno Sakura.

Kakashi noticed her inattention and said, a little petulantly, "Pay attention, Sakura. I won't repeat my instructions. If you want help, you'll have to ask your teammates."

Sakura grinned widely. Ha. Foolish men, and she cackled in the lightless space of her mind.

"Sorry, Kakashi-sensei, but I don't need your help."

The team watched as Sakura planted a foot at the base of the tallest tree around them. As if to taunt them, she walked gracefully and breezily to the tree's topmost brach without any apprehension. She waved at her team from the highest branch. Then, just to enjoy the rush, leapt from the tree branch far into the air, executing some of Lee's favorite acrobatic tricks; remembering to keep her arms and elbows locked at her sides for maximum aerodynamic capacity, Sakura twisted and flipped through the air during her ascent, before she plummeted down at a frightening pace. Sakura loved the feeling of free falling. Allowing a rare, devil-may-car grin to stretch across her visage, Sakura sent chakra to her feet, calfs, ankles, and knees in order to avoid breaking them as she slammed down in front of Kakashi, Naruto, and Sasuke. Her landing impacted the earth around her, creating a small crater.

"Well done, Sakura-chan. It's no surprise that with your delicate chakra control, you were able to complete this exercise with… minimal effort. That was some excellent taijutsu, my student. It looks suspiciously like the style of one of my… friends." He supposed Gai could be called a friend… though he was more of a one man show than anything else, but Kakashi knew well that whenever he was in danger, Gai would rush to his side, no matter the opponent. And he would do the same for that ridiculous "Green Beast".

Sending chakra to her legs in order to avoid damage from the fall. Indeed, she outmatches her teammates, thought Kakashi.

Sakura had made the tree-walking exercise look so easy that the boys completely underestimated the difficulty of the task. Sasuke could barely reach a few meters up the tree before the bark buckled under the flux of his chakra. Naruto, who had even less chakra control, wasn't doing any better.

Kakashi turned to Sakura. He looked down at the pink haired shinobi, who looked at her teammates with both a bored and bemused expression.

"Should I even bother asking if you know how to walk on water?"

"You can ask, but my answer will only confirm your suspicions," drawled the pink haired shinobi. "The answer is yes. Didn't I tell you the first time we met that I have extremely delicate chakra control? Ah, you were dressed a little differently back then." Sakura laughed lightly, recalling Kakashi in his ANBU uniform.

Suddenly, behind her, she felt a suspicious spike in Sasuke's chakra. He was struggling badly.

Come on, Sasuke. Be better in this timeline. Ask for help—it doesn't have to be mine.

But Sasuke did not approach her. Neither did Naruto. They were probably too caught up in their own rivalry to bother with her.

Sakura turned to Kakashi. "Do you think we could skip to something more… advanced, Kakashi-sensei?"

Hatake Kakashi thought for a moment. Something more advanced…

"If you were the shinobi that was described in your file from the academy, I would never take this step, but my instincts are telling me you can handle it. Walk with me," and Kakashi led her to a clearing out of the boys' sight. "The first time we met, do you remember the jutsu you mentioned?"

"The Chidori?" asked Sakura, feigning innocence. Kakashi had already taught her the Chidori in her previous timeline. Naruto had taught her the Rasengan, though because her chakra moved at will, the water balloon exercise and mechanics of the jutsu were no trouble. Of course, in the past, she was only able to manifest the jutsu with years of expanding her chakra network and with the help of her Yin seal. None of this would have been possible with chakra reserves from when she was a genin. She was grateful for this chance; appreciative of the deal she made with the devil who brought Sakura here and granted her power beyond what humans were capable… power that would hopefully soon show itself.

"Yes. Would you like to learn? You have the speed, chakra control and chakra reserves necessary for the jutsu."

"Hai, Kakashi-sensei!"

Thus the training began. After Kakashi's preliminary explanation of the jutsu, Sakura had an idea. "Kakashi-sensei, what will you give me if I get it right on the first try?"

Kakashi chuckled at her audacious remark. "I'll grant you a wish. Any wish, as long as it isn't treasonous."

Now that would be useful, thought Sakura. That was motivation enough.

"Sensei, I will now summon the Chidori."

Sakura shifted into a wide legged stance. She knew it was the special combination of speed and power that made Chidori so powerful, and produced the sound of chirping birds for which it was known. She drew a breath and focused her chakra into her palm. Kakashi nearly did a spit take as the sound of chirping birds filled the clearing.

"Look, Kakashi-sensei! I can even change the shape of the Chidori!" She deftly manipulated her chakra from a ball to a sword, then into something that looked more like a chakra scalpel than the Chidori. Perhaps the most amazing aspect of her feat was that she did not require extreme running to summon the Chidori, thus making the jutsu much easier to control.

Well, my nickname was "Chakra-Weaver Haruno" in my last timeline, Sakura thought with a little smugness.

A Chidori on her first try? Let alone the ability to manipulate it's manifestation! Kakashi lifted his headband to reveal his Sharingan; he thought Sakura could be a more advanced ninja, hidden under the guise of henge, but what he saw was a 12 year old girl, playing with lightning like a cat with a ball of string. As he examined her, he noticed just how physically fit the girl was. Her chakra reserves were a bit confusing. They were large, but divided, and there was an unimaginably powerful force hiding behind her Yin seal, collecting behind her forehead.

Is she fighting and storing chakra simultaneously, at a constant rate? In this way, she is always growing her chakra reserves. The chakra seems to be building behind the diamond mark on her forehead, but my Sharingan tells me that isn't the whole story. There's more to it.

"Are you even a lightning type?" asked Kakashi, eyeing Sakura up and down.

Sakura shrugged. "I have an affinity for all the elements, Kakashi-sensei. Anyways, does it matter? That's a pretty tired eye you have there, sensei. Do you mind if I take a look?"

Thank you, Ino-pig, for teaching me the art of misdirection. I will protect you in this timeline, Sakura silently vowed.

Kakashi was unnerved by the idea of letting a kid look at his Sharingan—what could she possibly know about it? The Uchiha massacre was a taboo topic and with the disappearance of the clan, so went most written evidence of the Sharingan's secrets. But he had experienced first hand Sakura's prowess as a medical ninja. Slowly, he nodded and sat down, cross legged. Sakura knelt before him. She lifted a hand engulfed in green, healing chakra to his left eye.

First, she did a preliminary assessment of the damage in and around the eye. Because Kakashi couldn't turn his Sharingan off, his optic nerves were flayed and worn. Sakura grimaced as she thought of the residual pain he must have been experiencing all this time.

I should've done this earlier, but it's no use regretting now. I must ease Kakashi's pain.

Sakura repaired the tired nerves and restored energy to his corneas, which had been dimmed by constant perception. Kakashi unwittingly let out a sigh of relief as the pain of years compounded of years left him. It was as if he had a new eye.

"Sakura-chan, did I mention that you're my favorite student?" Kakashi said, reveling in ease of it all.

Sakura giggled. "It was no trouble, Kakashi-sensei. Whenever your eye bothers you, please come to me. I may be your student, but I am also your teammate."

In fact, you became my subordinate when I made ANBU captain, Sakura thought with fondness. You called me Haruno-taichou back then.

"I offer you my congratulations. I promised you a wish for your impressive feat. What do you want, Sakura-chan?" asked Kakashi. Somehow, speaking to Sakura did not feel like speaking to someone of lower rank, especially a 12 year old genin. In any other situation, with any other person, Kakashi would have had a kunai at their throat for suspicious behavior such as unreported skills. However, Kakashi was sure of Sakura's loyalty towards her village, and in particular, the welfare of her teammates. There was also an extent to which he felt a vague sense of familiarity and trust towards the girl, and he was a man who had learned to listen to his instincts.

Wait for more data…The copy-nin repeated to himself.

Sakura thought for a moment. "Hmm. Well, I wouldn't want to waste such a hard won prize on something trivial. I will think and get back to you."

Kakashi nodded. A wise choice. I am now even more indebted to her than before.

"Shall we head back to check on Sasuke and Naruto's progress? And Sakura? Keep this little technique between us. Only use it as a last resort."

A painful smile twisted across Sakura's face. Those were the exact same words Kakashi said to her when he first taught her the Chidori: only use it as a last resort.

When she thought of the pain this jutsu caused Naruto, she grimaced. The sight of Naruto and Sasuke clashing, Rasengan versus Chidori, again and again with every variation of the jutsus, echoed in the empty halls of her heart. Sasuke and Naruto had almost killed each other, minutes after reuniting with the Allied Forces and defeating the Rabbit Goddess, Kaguya, the very entity bound within her…Though, she hadn't been completely defeated, or rather, destroyed; after all, it was Kaguya's powers and desire for peace which aligned with Sakura's desperate desire to try again, which allowed her to enter a different timeline. Without Kaguya's powers, she would not have been able to pull off that level of dimensional ninjutsu. Kaguya was Sakura's ace, the secret she would keep until the last minute, the power that would never make it into the bingo books because anyone who saw it would end up on the business end of her kunai. She would make sure to rid the world of any witnesses; though, perhaps she wouldn't have to. Sakura's knowledge was vast, and she remembered reading about powers in Kaguya's arsenal which included mind control. Kaguya was Sakura's true "last resort."

Sakura wiped her expression and followed Kakashi back to where the boys were still struggling to climb trees.

Night fell and while the boys kept practicing outside, Sakura began to tuck into her cot.

"Sakura." She knew that voice anywhere.

"Yes, Sasuke?"

There was a long, silent pause.

Ask her, prompted Sasuke's older self.

Sasuke sighed. "Could you… help me with the tree climbing exercise?"

Sakura smiled. He's reaching out. That is definitely a good sign. "I'd be glad to help. Lead the way."

They made their way to the dark clearing not far from Inari's house. Sakura stopped and turned to him. "Sit," she ordered. Surprisingly, he did so without a word. Sakura began her lecture:

"As Kakashi said before, this exercise is one in chakra control. The theory is simple: send chakra to the bottom of your feet. Send too little, and your foot won't stick to the bark; send too much, and the bark with break under your heel. So, the first thing we need to do is gain some control over and be mindful of our chakra flow."

Sasuke listened quietly and nodded every once in a while. She continued: "First, meditate for ten minutes. Close your eyes and feel the chakra coiling in your abdomen. Can you get a sense of the current? The direction of flow? Keep your breathing steady."

After eight minutes of silence, Sasuke spoke up, albeit a little uncertainly. "I…think I feel it." He hummed, as if to corroborate his confession. "It is chaotic and riotous, like a stormy sea."

"Indeed, and now you must tame it. The better your control, the more precisely and meaningfully you can use your chakra." The wisdom in her voice… Sakura did not sound like a green and untested genin, but a creature of authority. Perhaps that is why Sasuke listened so intently.

It hadn't escaped her notice that Naruto had snuck behind a tree to listen in, so she made sure to speak loudly.

Two minutes passed by. "I can control it a bit better now."

"Why don't you try climbing the tree now, Sasuke?" Sakura broached.

Sasuke, oddly silent, stood up.

"Approach the tree calmly, Sasuke, and take a moment to stabilize your chakra before you actually start walking up the tree."

Sasuke did so and placed a foot gingerly on the trunk of a medium sized tree.

No! Too much! Sasuke furrowed his brow. Stabilize my breathing and chakra flow.

The chakra sloshing around his feet became more calm and placid. He began to walk up the tree, then, feeling his control slipping, ran as fast as he could and, at the last moment, slashed the bark halfway up the tree to indicate his progress. It was significant.

Sakura caught Naruto's gaze and winked. He blushed and rushed off to try the technique according to Sakura's explanation.

"Thank you, Sakura." Sasuke's voice was quiet and low.

"I was happy to be of assistance. I am your teammate, after all," Sakura smiled warmly, inhibitions lost in a rare moment of vulnerability. "Alright, I'm going to sleep. We have a big day tomorrow, I can feel it."

Sakura made her way back to the house and thought of what tomorrow would bring.

...

R&R! Hope you enjoyed the chapter!