A/N:

Hello my lovely readers,

today is September 1st and I was really hoping to post this chapter before my fall semester begins and I have succeeded!

You guys are so amazing. I so enjoy reading your reviews/reactions/ideas/thoughts to the chapters as you read my story.

It leaves sort of an echo with me as I continue to write the next installments and I just wanna say thank you.

Now let us begin!

- masayume

Important...this story is rated M for a reason - you have been warned.

Chapter 25. A Daughter of Senju

It felt as if she were caught in an endless storm — the wind heaving greatly as she spun through a blinding vortex of light. The last memory that she could think of were the falling autumn leaves of red and gold — and how they danced with the wind, lulling her to an eternal slumber.

Her mind ventured further, as if her own life story was rewinding right before her eyes.

She sees Itachi — the love of her life, and she sees as they pledge themselves to one another during their secret marriage ceremony, she goes further and she sees herself standing in the temple of Kanon, pleading the merciful goddess to allow her to return to him. She goes further, seeing Itachi's nearly lifeless body before her and how she struggled to bring him back to life after the Senju farmland attack. And she goes even further, swimming through the vortex of her memories — seeing all the familiar faces, the former Uchiha matriarch and patriarch, witnessing Satsuki for the first time in the forest. And then she was back with her mother Mebuki, and her former teacher Kakashi. And as the age regressed, Sakura felt soft tears trickle down her cheeks.

And then there was a memory she did not recognize.

She was lying on an examination bed, covered by a thin warm blanket and at the foot of her bed was the man who raised her, Haruno Kizashi. His usually messy light-brown hair was neatly pulled back and his ever-present moustache was barely a stubble. He looked much younger than Sakura remembered — no sign of wrinkles upon his features, only slight bags under his eyes. Then again, he was dressed in mint-green scrubs and in his hands, he held up a chart. For a moment longer, Sakura hovered as she listened to her father's gentle voice.

"Are you alright, sweet girl? You gave us all quite a bit of fright."

And the memory takes her back even further — she's lying on the ground of the shrine; her breaths are shallow as blood escapes her lips. She's tightly wrapped in the golden Uchiha haori. And as she goes further, she witnesses as she is placed before the altar by Aoi's father — how he rescues her from the serpent assassin and her heart aches as she goes even further and sees her mother, Ai.

The sight of the elder pink-haired woman adorned in soft grey and green silk kimono caused Sakura's heart to quench with a need to reach out to her.

The woman — her birth mother gazed at her with utmost love, her soft hands gently tucking the soft pink wisps of Sakura's hair behind her ear. It was a caress she was familiar with — a mother's loving touch. Then, the woman leaned forward and pressed a tender kiss to Sakura's forehead. That action felt like coming home.

She sees a glimpse of her birth father, hovering just behind her mother and keeping a vigilant eye over his daughter — and for the first time, Sakura feels a connection to Senju Tobirama.

Her final memory is foggy — she's in her mother's arms, leaning into her body eagerly for contact. Ai's hair is pushed to the side with an elegant comb depicting a gold and jade butterfly.

"My sweet girl. My precious daughter. Oh, how long I dreamt of meeting you," Ai coos as she holds a newborn daughter in her arms.

As her mother glances away from her, her father comes to the view, and Sakura sees for the first time a genuine smile upon the harsh Senju's face.

"She's perfect, isn't she To-chan?" Ai glances to her husband as Tobirama takes the newborn into his large arms.

The tiny creature remained calm as it was plucked from her mother's arms and placed in her father's. Tobirama beamed with pride as he pressed a soft kiss to the newborn's large forehead.

"Yes, she is. Our perfect little girl," Tobirama agreed. "Our little Hanae."

Then, as quick as the memories appeared, they vanish without a trace and Sakura stands alone surrounded by a bright light.

The moment she awakens, she feels a throbbing pain in her side — and she remembers the sharp blade entering her body at an angle, sending her into shock just as it retracted from her and sent Sakura to the ground. She remained motionless, instead focusing her gaze on the familiar room — her and Itachi's sleeping quarters. The first thing she noted was that she was alone, dressed in a light kimono and covered by the futon sheets up to her neck to keep her warm. She took slow breaths, easing her body into control once more. Her right hand was pressed against the dressed wound on her side and with a hint of discomfort she sits up, to take a better look at the quarters.

There were discarded bandages, and used bowls to the side, while a pile of ointment jars and fresh bandages rested on a small wooden tray right next to her. At the sight of the ointment jars, a soft smile appears on Sakura's tired face and her first thought is of the littlest Uchiha. Sachi — her little shadow, her sweet sister-in-law who had managed to successfully perform her first surgery without Sakura's assistance. Relieved, that she was still here thanks to her own family, Sakura placed her hand over her stomach, pulsing a wave of green chakra into her. As she closed her eyes for a moment — if only to concentrate, Sakura felt a wave of pride wash over her at the thought of her student. Thanks to Sachi, she was going to be alright and so was the little secret growing within her.

It took her a moment longer, but Sakura slowly rose to her feet, making her way out of the quarters, only to hear bits of a heated conversation between two men. The voices she recognized almost instantly — one belonging to her beloved husband, and the other to her birth father, Senju Tobirama. And as such, curiosity took over her and she stepped forward following the voices.

"How long do you plan to remain in my compound?"

"As long as it takes. I am not leaving until my daughter is safe."

"She is safe. With me!"

"Not from what I've seen. Your former paramour stabbed her from behind. How predictable of the Uchiha — a clan with no honour."

"Careful Senju!"

It is in that moment that Sakura stands in the doorway to the main receiving room and her eyes fall onto the two men. At her presence, both men come to a halt and stare at the unexpected visitor. Itachi rises to his feet almost immediately and with hasty steps he walks over to his wife.

"Sakura! You're awake. You should be resting. I'll take you back," Itachi said with a softened voice.

"No, I'm alright. Sachi did a good job — all I feel is a little bit of dull pain, but I'm ok. I'll go rest in a little bit," Sakura answered as her eyes were focused on the elder Senju, still sitting behind the low table.

"Sakura, I must insist—" Itachi began only for Sakura to interrupt him.

"I need a moment with my father," Sakura said softly, her eyes finally turning from the Senju and to her husband.

"Are you sure? You don't have to speak to him — if you don't want to," Itachi offered.

"I want to. Please, give us a moment alone," Sakura replied.

Unwilling to argue with his wife any further, Itachi nodded reluctantly. "Alright, I'll be in the front yard with Shisui — if you need me," Itachi added. Then, he turned to leave and made his way out of the house.

Once Itachi was gone, Tobirama rose to his feet as well. His gaze was upon the injured pink-haired woman in the room — his only child. And yet, his cold facade remained in place as he cleared his throat to finally address his daughter in private.

"Your husband is right. You should be resting," Tobirama acknowledged.

"I should be, but there's something we must address. Your presence — here, in an Uchiha compound," Sakura replied.

"You're my child. I had to make sure you were far from death's door before I left this compound," Tobirama answered.

At the mention of their bond, Sakura took a deep breath, needing a moment to ground herself as the memories that she relived only mere moments ago remained fresh in her head. The sound of her birth mother's voice and the sound of her birth father's voice — the realization of how much they loved her was overwhelming. And so, Sakura felt tears form and escape down her cheeks.

"When I lost consciousness, I saw my life flash before my eyes. I saw bits and pieces of my story that I had no memories of," Sakura begins with a soft voice. Her voice cracks as she thinks back to the forgotten memories. "I even saw my mother — sh-she w-wore a g-gold a-and j-jade hair c-comb."

At the sight of Sakura's distress, the firm mask of a clan leader shattered, and his features softened. Without haste, he stepped towards her and with his calloused fingers he gently wiped the falling tears from her cheeks.

"Oh, my child. My daughter, don't cry," Tobirama soothed. "Your mother loved you more than life. She would not want you to cry over her. She would want you to live happily and safe from harm."

Without a warning, Sakura launched herself forward, embracing her father for the first time. At first, the proud Senju was startled by her sudden actions or her display of affection. The last time he held her in his arms, she was but two years old and now here was a young woman clutching onto his robes just like the little girl he remembered. Unwilling to part from the rare moment of true affection, Tobirama wraps his arms around his daughter, holding her closely against his heart. They remained in an embrace for a moment longer. Then, once Sakura's tears slowly diminished, the rosette pulled away from her father's arms, only to meet his gaze once more.

"I am happy with the Uchiha. I love my husband, and he loves me. My family here, has never wronged me. In fact, they helped me, many times over. Father, please understand. I need you to end this conflict between Senju and the Uchiha. Please, for me your daughter and your grandchild," Sakura says.

"Oh, my sweet daughter," Tobirama says with a gentle voice. "It isn't easy to end a decades long conflict. I answer to elders, just as your husband does."

"Please, just try," Sakura pleads.

Meanwhile.

The moment the Uchiha patriarch stepped outside onto the engawa of his home, his eyes fell to the group of warriors that seemingly congregated in his front yard. There by the entrance, stood Naruto heavily on guard as he watched the Senju guard with an almost militant presence. Shisui was sitting on the engawa with his back pressed against the wooden post. His gaze was rather fixated on his right hand — as if he were examining the creases in his battle-hardened hand with deep interest. Then, at the sound of footsteps on the gravel, Itachi turned to see Aoi walking back to the house, carrying a wicker basket filled with an assortment of items from the infirmary — on her right was Sachi, walking in step with her cousin as they hurried back to the house. At the sight of her eldest brother, Sachi immediately broke out into a run.

"How's Sakura? Any update?" Sachi asks as she reaches the steps of the house.

"Yes, she's awake and walking about. She's speaking with Tobirama for the moment," Itachi explained.

"What? She shouldn't be walking at all," Sachi said, almost distressed at the thought of having to repair any damage that Sakura's sudden adventuring around the house could bring.

"Sachi…" Itachi began but as soon as the young Uchiha disappeared inside the house, he shook his head — not bothering to follow after his sister. He knew better than to interrupt the Uchiha women when they set their mind to something. As soon as Aoi followed in after Sachi, Itachi turned his attention to Shisui.

"Did you do it?" Itachi asked his cousin.

Shisui glanced up to his clan leader and nodded.

"Yes, as per your instruction, Madatachi is currently awaiting your presence in his cell. He is quite vocal about how unpleasant his current surroundings are," Shisui explained.

"Good, let him rot in there for a while. I will deal with him once Sakura recovers completely," Itachi says as he crosses his arms across his chest.

It is a moment later when the doors slide open once more and reveal Tobirama and Sakura standing in the doorway. Itachi's eyes travel first to the Senju — as if to evaluate Senju's intentions before he settles his eyes upon his wife. The sight of his love standing before him — breathing once more, standing on her own two feet once more causes the fear from his body to dissipate.

"Everything alright?" Itachi asked, his eyes traveling to his wife's blotchy face.

"Yes, everything is alright," Sakura nodded as a small smile appeared on her lips.

Tobirama cleared his throat as he stepped forward towards Itachi.

"Let me be clear Uchiha. You and I… we might be family by marriage, but we are not friends. However, for the sake of my beloved daughter, our conflict ends today — to specify, I mean that our hostile behaviour will cease as of this day. The Senju will not attack Uchiha on sight and we will not sabotage your plans on expanding your borders as long as you extend the same courtesy to my clan. Do we have an agreement?" Tobirama offered with a prideful voice.

"We do," Itachi agreed and with the agreement cemented, both clan heads offered the other a small bow of respect. And with that, Tobirama stepped down from the main Uchiha house and walked out towards his men, joining them once more on the horseback.

Itachi glances down to Shisui. "Gather our people. I will speak with Minato and make a proclamation before all of them."

"Consider it done," Shisui answers and he hops off the engawa and makes his way out of the courtyard.

It is then, when Itachi finally turns back to his wife and with a single step he stands before her once more. Eagerly, he wraps his arms around her, minding her wound as he holds her against him. It is but a mere moment of calm and bliss between them and Sakura simply melts into her husband's loving arms.

"I thought I lost you," Itachi barely murmurs against her ear.

At Itachi's words, Sakura tightens her hold on her husband, and she presses a soft kiss against his neck.

"No chance," Sakura replies with a soft voice. "You're not losing us that easily."

At Sakura's words, Itachi gently lets go of the embrace only to gaze upon his wife more intently. The beautiful smile that rested upon her face made his heart soar.

"So, it's true? You are with my child?" Itachi asked as he places his hand against her stomach.

"Yes," Sakura answers happily.

With that single word, all of a sudden Itachi was overwhelmed with love and joy.

"Thank you," Itachi says as he presses a soft kiss to Sakura's forehead. "Now, let's get you back inside. You need rest." And with that in mind, both re-entered their home, feeling a sense of relief wash over them. And for Sakura, a single thought crossed her mind — that perhaps, fate was on their side, and all would be well.

A/N: Please review. Writing is a all-consuming experience and whenever we (the authors/writers) receive a review it brings us joy and we feel appreciated - that our hard work is recognized. Until next time.