A/N:

Hello everyone.

I wasn't expecting that so many people would favourite this story so the email alerts were a nice kick in the gear for me to keep writing.

I am happy to see people are enjoying so far. Anyways, here's the next chapter.

This story is rated M for a reason. You have been warned.

^^ Happy Reading!

Chapter 2. The House of Uchiha

Her mind raced as she remained still. As she assessed her current situation, her gaze remained on the steel blade. She was already very late. Right now, she was meant to be scrubbing in for her first solo surgery and not in an unknown place with a real katana threatening her life. Why did she feel the need to stop at a shrine? Where did the shrine take her? This was not Konoha. There were no tall buildings, crowded markets and busy streets. She was at the edge of a forest with only a young girl and her older brother as company. How did she get here? She answered a call for help and without hesitation she provided the care the child needed. She was a physician, a healer. She took an oath to do no harm. If her care led to her early demise, then so be it. Her eyes were on the young girl in front of her, who seemed happy to see the sword-wielder — her oniisan. The blade remained still angled towards her neck, leaving Sakura to anticipate the worst. Then Satsuki's words caused her fear to slowly disintegrate.

"Oniisan, don't hurt Sakura-chan. She's my friend. She healed me."

Sakura felt the sword retract from her shoulder and — the breath she didn't even know she was holding — she finally exhaled deeply. A wave of relief washed over her as she collected her bag and placed across her body. Then she slowly stood up and turned to face Satsuki's brother. He was taller than her, dressed in a white haori with his chest partly exposed and dark blue hakama pants. His ensemble was tied together with a purple obi.

"You aided my young sister for that I thank you on the behalf of our clan," the raven-haired man said as he sheathed the katana.

"There's no need to thank me, I am a doctor and I did my duty to treat her wound. I am just glad that I heard her call for help. I guess I was at the right place at the right time," Sakura replied as she looked down to Satsuki with a smile, offering her hand to help her stand.

The young girl took her hand, holding it tightly as if she did not plan on letting go of the pink-haired doctor.

"Arigatou Sakura-chan," Satsuki said with a smile.

"You're welcome Satsuki-chan," Sakura replied as she returned the smile.

His eyes traveled down to the young girl who took a hold of Sakura's hand.

"Satsuki, we are going home at once. The animal that injured you can still be prowling the area," her brother stated calmly.

The young girl looked up at her pink-haired savior as she tugged her hand a little bit to steal her attention. Sakura looked down to the girl and smiled," yes?"

"Sakura-chan please come with us," Satsuki insisted.

"I … " Sakura began as she looked in the direction of where she came from.

"Sakura is it?" the raven-haired man spoke up.

She turned back to look at him and simply nodded.

"Haruno Sakura," she answered.

"Uchiha Sasuke," he replied and then he looked down to his young sister.

"Let's go," the raven-haired man stated as he turned to leave.

Sakura's eyes fell onto the red uchiwa fan that decorated the back of Sasuke's white haori. Unsure how to return to her own world, Sakura took a step forward following behind Satsuki's brother as Satsuki held her hand.

The Uchiha compound was vast. It sprawled across a large portion of the valley, guarded with tall walls from one side and with the tall mountain from the other. From the distance, one could see the various buildings towering slightly over the wall. As they approached the main gate, the guards rang the bell.

"Mikoto-sama! Sasuke-sama found her!" the guard alerted as they watched the trio approach the gate.

A woman dressed in a kimono rushed out desperately through the gate and made her way towards the trio.

"SATSUKI!" THANK THE GODS!"

"MAMA!"

Satsuki let go of Sakura's hand and she rushed towards the woman as fast as her small legs could carry her. The woman collapsed down to her knees onto the grassy ground. Her arms wrapped tightly around her daughter. Satsuki returned the tight embrace. The woman slowly parted, taking a closer look at her child. As Sakura reached the woman, she was able to take a closer look at the woman. She wore a dark blue kimono with an intricate golden pattern woven into the sleeves. Her hair was jet-black and loose, reaching to the middle of her back. Her soft facial features were stained with redness — no doubt from the tears that still stained her complexion. She closed her onyx coloured eyes tightly as she held her youngest close.

"Mama, I'm alright. Sakura-chan saved me. See?" Satsuki said as she showed her mother the slight scar on her leg.

Mikoto quickly glanced at the bite-like scar that remained on her daughter's leg and she immediately pulled her daughter into a tight embrace.

"Don't ever put me through this again. Thank the gods that Sasuke was able to find you. What would I have told your father once he and Itachi returned? You're our treasure Satsuki! You are to never venture out of the compound on your own. Do we understand each other?" Mikoto spoke to her youngest as she held her close.

"H-hai mama," Satsuki mumbled as she held onto her.

Mikoto gently used the sleeve of her kimono to wipe the tears that rested on her cheeks. Her eyes then wandered to the pink-haired woman that stood next to her younger son.

"Thank you, thank you for saving my daughter," Mikoto said as she held her youngest child tightly against her chest.

"I am just glad I was able to help Uchiha-sama," Sakura replied humbly.

Mikoto slowly stood up, holding her youngest child's hand tightly. She then reached for her son with her free hand. Although reluctant at first, Sasuke took a step towards his mother and sister and he gently embraced her in a quick embrace. Then he pulled away and said," I'll go call off the search party."

Mikoto nodded and she let Sasuke leave. Satsuki gently pulled on her mother's sleeve, trying to get her attention.

"Mama can Sakura-chan stay with us? Please?" Satsuki asked.

"Of course, I would not have it any other way. I will make sure the guest quarters are prepared at once," Mikoto stated.

"I do not wish to trouble you Uchiha-sama," Sakura said softly.

" Please, I insist. You saved my child and for that I will be eternally grateful. You are a guest to our clan, and you may stay as long as you need. As matriarch of the Uchiha clan, I welcome you," Mikoto replied as she bowed towards Sakura.

Sakura returned the bow in respect towards the matriarch and said softly," Arigatou Uchiha-sama."

"Mikoto-san will do."

It did not take long for Sakura to settle in within the Uchiha compound. Thanks to Mikoto's gracious hospitality, she was given a small house not far from the matriarch's home. Just like all the other buildings within the compound, it was a traditional house, completed with an engawa veranda around it. As she entered the entryway slipped out of her sneakers and slipped on the house slippers before entering further. First thing first, Sakura slid open the amado shutters, opening up the home to air out the space. Then she looked around the small space, observing her new, hopefully temporary home. The floor was covered in tatami mats and there was a separate room, hidden by sliding fusuma panels. Both of the panels were decorated with a red uchiwa fan. She slid them open, revealing a smaller room. There were blankets stored to the side of the wall next to a storage chest. She left the room open as she made her way towards the other end of the house. Her gaze fell onto the small kitchen in the far-right corner and the small low table in the center. It was not much, but it was a home.

"Konnichiwa! I came to help you tidy up the place," Satsuki stated as she appeared in the entryway.

Sakura looked at her visitor and smiled. "You did? Thank you, I was just trying to figure out where to even start," Sakura said.

"Well I brought a bucket of water, I left it on the veranda for now and Mama is sending Usagi-chan with some supplies. She should be here shortly," Satsuki said as she

"Your mother is too kind. I am not sure how I will be able to repay her kindness," Sakura replied as she touched the dusty wall, gliding her finger down.

"My mother is thankful for you saving my life. There's no need for you to repay our family," Satsuki said simply.

The young girl brought in the bucket of water while Sakura found some old pieces of cloth which they could use as cleaning rags. They both grabbed one and dipped it into the water before they started wiping down the floors.

"Satsuki-chan, how old are you?" Sakura asked.

"I turned twelve this past winter. You Sakura-chan?" Satsuki asked right back.

"I turned twenty-two this past spring," Sakura replied with a smile.

"You're the same age as Sasuke-oniisan. Well you're older he was born in the summer," Satsuki commented.

"I have another brother Itachi and he's the oldest out of the three of us. He's a warrior, the best out of all of the Uchiha warriors," Satsuki added.

"Well I hope I will meet them under better circumstance than Sasuke-san," Sakura commented as she remembered the earlier encounter.

"It might be a while till you see them. Itachi-nii and father have been sent out with a few of the men by the daimyo last week. There's been some disturbances to the east. I just hope they're safe," Satsuki sighed as she wiped down the wooden columns around the house.

The girls wiped down every surface within the house and then sat down for a moment, admiring their handiwork.

"This place is starting to look like a clean house. We will make it spotless and cozy and then you will never want to leave," Satsuki commented with glee.

"Well your mother said I may stay until I am able to go home," Sakura replied.

"I wish you were able to stay permanently though. I'm sure you will love the entire Niwamachi. We can go to the town together if you need any specific supplies," Satsuki stated.

Niwamachi? Why does it sound so familiar? She was certain that she heard it before. Many times. It was at the tip of her tongue as she pondered over the name. And then, Sakura's mind went wild as she pieced the pieces together. The traditional clothes, the katana swords, the traditional looking villages. She did not just enter a parallel universe as she assumed when the shrine disappeared. She traveled back in time. She traveled so far back in time that Konoha was called Niwamachi.

"Three hundred years," Sakura muttered under her breath.

"Gomen for the intrusion but Mikoto-sama sent me to assist you and to deliver some supplies for you."

Sakura looked towards the entryway and noticed the polite intruder. It was a young woman dressed in a plain kimono with her black hair neatly tied into a tight bun. In her arms she held

"You must be Usagi-san. Thank you for your help," Sakura greeted, and she took the items with both hands.

"There's no need to thank me Sakura-sama. I have brought over some household supplies you will need for your home. Mikoto-sama also instructed me to bring you a set of clothes and when you were ready to escort you to the bathhouse if needed," Usagi said as she bowed to the pink-haired woman.

"Sakura is fine. There's no need for honorifics Usagi-san and thank you," Sakura said as she took the wooden box that contained kimono.

Later.

After finally settling into her new home, Sakura gazed down at her mint-coloured scrubs. She needed a change of clothes just as much as she needed a shower. As she thought back to her apartment back home, she sighed, knowing well that she would not find the same comfort here. Instead, she would settle on visiting a bathhouse. There she was, walking towards the destination along with Satsuki and Usagi.

"Your clothing is odd Sakura-chan. Are they a common type of clothing in your village?" Satsuki asked.

"Well, it is only worn by doctors and nurses. I am just used to having them on me since I spend so much time healing others at a hospital … I mean a clinic," Sakura replied.

Suddenly the gates were opened and several men on horses galloped in. Sakura pulled Satsuki to the side, to avoid being run over as the group of men came to a halt outside the main Uchiha house.

"GET THE DOCTOR NOW!"

"Otousan! I got you. We made it," a tall raven-haired man said as he lifted the older brunet from the back of the horse.

Satsuki let go of Sakura and she rushed towards the men. Sakura gave the kimono to Usagi for a moment and said, "I need to see if I can help. Hold onto it for me?"

Usagi took the clean kimono and nodded," Of course."

"PAPA!" Satsuki exclaimed as she watched her oldest brother and cousin carry their father into the compound.

Sakura followed after Satsuki, her eyes falling onto the trail of blood that the wounded brunet left behind. The two men brought the wounded elder up onto the engawa just as Mikoto slid open the door. Sakura held Satsuki's hand as the young child began to cry.

"What happened Shisui?!" Mikoto asked as she looked at the short haired man.

The two men settled the patriarch inside laying him flat on his stomach, and Mikoto's eyes fell onto the blood-soaked wound on her husband's back.

"It was an ambush mother!" the long-haired man answered instead.

"The doctor is here Mikoto-sama," one of the guards alerted.

A short elder man dressed in a white kimono made his way up the steps and into the house. He leaned down towards the wounded patriarch, noticing the long diagonal sword wound that reached from his left shoulder to his right hip. The doctor straightened himself and turned to the matriarch.

"I am sorry Mikoto-sama but there's nothing I can do. Your husband wound is far too large and too deep," Homura the doctor said calmly.

"No, there must be, there must be something you can do!" Mikoto pleaded.

"There isn't," Homura declared.

Satsuki started to cry, as they stood at the edge of the engawa into Sakura's scrubs. Sakura's eyes wandered from the trail of blood to the patient hidden inside the house. She then looked at Satsuki and whispered," I'll try to help your papa ok?"

Satsuki nodded as she pulled away from her and Sakura walked up the steps. Is this the reason why she has been brought back into the past? To save lives of this family? first the child? now the child's father?

'Let me help. I am a doctor!" the pink-haired woman exclaimed as she stood in front of Mikoto and the doctor.

"I already declared that there is nothing we can do. Who are you to challenge my authority?!" Homura exclaimed in anger as he stared at the woman.

"Doctor Haruno Sakura, second year surgical resident at Senju General Hospital. Now beat it old man!" Sakura stated firmly and she pushed the doctor aside and made her way towards the patient.

"This is an outrage!" the older doctor declared," There's no such thing as a female doctor! You're nothing more than a demoness!"

"Leave "Mikoto ordered as she extended her hand towards the exit, ordering the doctor to vacate the premises.

Her eyes then fell onto the pink-haired woman who settled down next to her wounded husband and began to assess the injury. If she worked quickly, she could do this. Her hands touched the ripped kimono, ripping it further to expose the wound.

"He's your patient Sakura-san. I trust you. Now tell me what you need," Mikoto said calmly.