2. " You need to remove your clothes." His deep voice rumbled…
"You need to remove your clothes." His deep voice rumbled through her body, while her blush intensified. He tried to reassure her: "Do not worry Haruno-san. I will not take advantage". Maybe he was too forward with this, but he felt it was important to be completely honest and transparent. His bluntness did nothing to keep the blush from staining her cheeks. He was suddenly worried that she had scars other than battle wounds or losing loved ones. But she just blushed, he could detect no fear.
While she stood shakily, tugging at her flak jacket, he took the kettle of water from the fire and some clean white cloth. In vain she tried to pry off her clothing, but large parts of the blood soaked fabric seemed dried up and stuck to her skin.
He said softly: "Here let me try this…" And he took a cloth, soaking it with warm water and started to wet the dried patches making the crusts go soft. Making sure to have eye contact first, he took with slow and deliberate movements a kunai to cut through her shirt and bindings from the back. The rags fell to the ground and she suddenly felt air around her breast, a vulnerable feeling. The wounds stung painfully and started bleeding again.
He washed her back and she felt rivulets of water pouring down her spine and her front, forming a pool around her feet. She hissed from time to time when he cleaned a particularly large gash. After he was done, she turned towards him and he washed her front body without any indication of embarrassment about this intimacy. She blushed violently now. He noticed her embarrassment and an involuntary thought entered his mind: she is beautiful when her blush is complementing her pink hair and skin.
But outwardly, he tried to stay business like in his actions. She must be hurting, but only an occasional hiss betrayed her feelings. Her body was hardened, all muscle and no body fat, very different from the soft bodies of the clan women. Scars were emerging from underneath the blood and dirt. He traced them involuntarily while washing.
When done, he stepped behind her again, using the same technique of water to loosen the fabric. Then used the kunai to strip her of her pants. He felt awkward suddenly, but reprimanded himself, cleaning her bottom and long legs with business like strokes. The wounds were less deep here. She turned around while he was still crouching. He tried not to look at her sex, but felt a warm heat crawl up at his face. Stoically he proceeded, counting to ten in his mind and then it was done.
Sakura noticed his blushing face. He looked handsome. Some part of her was vaguely flattered that she could make him blush with her body, but it felt strange and forbidden. He was like a father to the village and villagers and that is how she always had perceived his presence in the rocks above Konoha. He was one of the Founding Fathers of the village even though right now he was hardly ten years her senior. His expression stayed emotionless despite the blush.
His deep rumbling voice, turned her insides to mush and she wished he would keep talking. "My apologies Haruno-San, if I have made you feel uncomfortable. The wounds are clean now. Your hair?"
She nodded, amazed at the strange situation that she was in. She bent over the kettle dipping her hair in and she felt his hands massaging her skull, rinsing the blood out of her hair. Afterwards he dried her hair with another cloth. She felt exhausted. Her limbs weighed tons and she couldn't even lift her arms.
But she was not done yet. He started to bandage the deepest wounds with fresh white cloth. His calloused hands were touching her skin now and then, inflicting a trail of goose bumps on her skin. When everything was neatly covered he helped her get into the spare clothing. She looked better, but exhausted. Her legs were shaking uncontrollably, and she felt too weak to stand straight. But before she could collapse, Tobirama picked her up without effort and carried her towards the bed, sitting her down on the side. He looked at her thoughtfully.
"Kunoichi. You are experiencing hypothermia and shock. The night will be cold and you need to be warm to heal and replenish your chakra. I will share my body heat with you tonight. Do I have your permission?" Not completely understanding, she nodded silently, she would agree to anything as long as she could lay down and sleep.
To her vague surprise, she felt him slide next to her under the covers. He hesitated, then slipped his arm underneath her neck, pulling her head onto his shoulder. Her body followed suit until she lay flush against him. A strangely comfortable position. Tensely he held her delicate body until he felt her finally relax against him.
Her hair smelled vaguely sweet, though the blood and dirt was still there. He had washed out wounds and warmed comrades in cold nights before, but never a woman. He tried to be indifferent about it, but had to admit to himself that he found her enticing, beautiful and mysterious. Sakura, cherry blossom. What surprised him the most was that he was lying here unarmed and totally relaxed with her in his arms. And he did not know the first thing about her. She could murder him in his sleep. But strangely he did not care right this moment. He felt at peace and he drifted off into a black velvety sleep. His nose buried in her hair.
She was restless part of the night, reliving memories of the war. He knew what to do and held her silently, speaking soft words of comfort, until she drifted off to sleep again.
He woke up first to a golden light illuminating the cave. The cold made their breath visible. Cursing that he needed to leave the warmth of the bed, he got up nevertheless prying the kunoichi from his body. To his relief, she kept on sleeping peacefully.
He made the fire, cooked rice and then woke her up. She looked up at him, squinting.
He held a bowl out to her. "Eat."
She took the bowl in silence, eating the rise while her slim legs dangled over the edge of the makeshift bed. Then she carefully put down her bowl and looked at him. "I have enough chakra now to heal some of my wounds."
She hesitated when he looked surprised. "I am a medic ninja" she stated simply.
He watched her, fascinated, when her fingers glowed a soft green. Seemingly without any effort, she healed her wounds. He never saw anyone heal wounds so fast and so complete. He was impressed. And it seemed another bit of proof of his theory about her.
When they ate the leftover rice and drank tea, Tobirama cleared up the cave and put the fire out. He put on his armour, trying to close the bands under his arms. It was a slow process.
"Here, let me", she spoke softly. He looked up and grunted approvingly. With quick lean hands she attached his armour. He fastened his happuri and when she looked up, she saw the man of the rocks again, the Nidaime Hokage.
"Haruno-san. We will travel to the Senju compound to meet my brother."
She paled and turned away from him to hide her reaction. But she wasn't quick enough.
Tobirama spoke his suspicion: "Haruno-san, I can see my brother is familiar to you. I can see how his mentioning is shocking to you. Please tell me why that is."
Taking a breath and opening her mouth he put up his hand to silence her. Warningly he said: "Be careful kunoichi. I have my own theory about who and what you are. Please make sure to not underestimate me and be a servant of the truth. It will serve you better than dishonesty."
She looked at him then, his stern face, devoid of emotion, his red eyes and handsome face. He stood there facing her, his arms crossed. She saw something flicker in his eyes, something vigilant, ruthless and emotionless. And she knew for certain that he would kill her if she was an enemy, no matter the intimacy and softness of the night. His coldness hurt her more than she cared to admit. After last night's events she desperately wanted to see him as an ally or friend. She did not want to break his trust, if he trusted her in the first place. She needed an ally in this world.
"Senju-sama… please give me some time to think…" He narrowed his eyes, and nodded curtly. "Do not get any ideas, I will be watching you."
He departed the cave and she followed him swiftly in his wake. With a flash, he disappeared in the forest around the cave entrance. Squinting against the bright sunlight, she felt the rays warm her face. With a deep sigh and sat down in the tall grass, her back leaning against the cold rock.
Her mind was racing. What would she do and what should she do? It was unlikely that she would return home any time soon. If Naruto, Sasuke and Kakashi defeated Kaguya, there was no way they would be able to bring her back….the mere thought brought tears that started to burn in her eyes.
As if the tears burst a dam, a gulf of despair washed over her. She was lost, she would never see her friends again. She was lost in the past and Konoha didn't even exist yet! Never again eating ramen with Naruto, never scolding Kakashi about his porn, never training with Tsunade, never would her eyes meet those of Sasuke again. Tears ran over her cheeks, her shoulders hunching. And for a while she let the grief wash over her, like a giant wave. She could only stay still, frozen in the chaos of her emotions.
After a while the sadness faded away, making place for determination. She had to come to terms with reality. She was not in an alien territory. She was in the care of the Nidaime Hokage and he was the founder of all that she was brought up with during her life. Somehow there was a link between them. He was Tsunade's great uncle. He was Hokage of the village. She was his subordinate, even if she was from the future. He was not her enemy! And she needed him, to defeat the enemy, or at least try. She had to change time itself…..
The idea froze her for a while. The implications running through her mind. She let the thought sink in, analysing all possible outcomes. It was complicated, she could see so many possibilities, so many pawns that were involved. She had an analytical brilliant mind, but this was beyond her capabilities. What she needed, was a second opinion.
She smiled to herself. How convenient to have Lord Second in the vicinity. But how to convince him? Honesty. He was already suspicious of her, and that suspicion would not go away until she told the truth, he would recognize the truth, right? She hoped he would instead of killing her on the spot.
"Nidaima-sama!"
After a few moments he strode out of the forest. She blinked. He looked so impressive, his movements fluid, the fur collar and happuri giving him a majestic aura. His features were handsome, the facial tattoos complementing his red eyes. He stopped before her. He noticed she looked nervous.
"Please Haruno-san. Do not be nervous. Let us sit down."
The sun was still shining, warming their bodies. The grass smelled sweet. Tobirama sank down and sat on his knees, putting his hands on his thighs. He closed his eyes for a moment and enjoyed the feeling of the sun on his face. While he tried to look vulnerable like this to coax the girl into trusting him, he also relished the sun and this silence before the storm. What she would say next, would have a grave effect on their relationship.
Opening his eyes again, he focussed on the reality of the nervous girl before him. It seemed she somehow recollected her calmth, sighed deeply and spoke.
"Nidaime-sama. My name is Haruno Sakura, jounin level shinobi, part of Team Seven, medically skilled, apprentice of your grandniece Senju Tsunade, the Godaime Hokage of Konohagakure. I am lost in the past. I was battling in the Fourth Shinobi War and was cast backwards in time against my will by the enemy, the Kaguya goddess. I am unable to return home. Please accept my servitude to the Senju-clan and future village of Konoha." She bowed.
When sitting straight again, she noticed how emotional these words made her. They were stinging with tears and a single one escaped her right eye. It made her angry all of a sudden. She felt vulnerable, lost and alone. She looked at her hands, trying to control her emotions.
It was a while before Tobirama spoke. He was deep in thought. It was as he suspected. So Hashirama's dream became reality after all! The girl was emotional. She was avoiding his gaze. He was grateful she told him the truth. And he believed her without a doubt, but more proof was needed to be absolutely certain.
" I want to believe you, however, your tale is unlikely. If you are speaking the truth can you offer proof?"
Her mind raced, he hadn't dismissed the idea altogether! She wracked her brain for information on the two brothers. What information did she have that wasn't generally known or could be found out by a spy?
"I know that you lost your two little brothers to this dreadful war with the Uchiha, Kawarama-san and Itama-san. I know that your brother secretly befriended Uchiha Madara and that your father decided to ambush him. It came to a confrontation between the Uchiha and Senju, but Madara-sama and Hashirama-sama put a stop to the fight. Sadly, they became enemies after that.
You and your brother share a dream of a shinobi system where children do not need to fight in wars. An alliance with the Uchiha is needed, but the alliance is still not accomplished. Your life philosophy is the Will of Fire. You are a formidable shinobi, water user and inventor of the Yin and Yang Release, Summoning Techniques, Barrier Ninjutsu, Shadow Clone Technique, Flying Thunder God Technique Hiraishin, Tandem Explosive Tags and Edo Tensei. And you have the best sensory skills of all. That must have been how you detected me in the first place."
He fell silent, completely shocked at this display of information. The death of his brothers and the encounter with Madara she could have collected through spies. But the information about his skills, some of those jutsu he was working on at the moment and nobody knew about them, not even his brother! So it was really true….
"Haruno-san, your story rings of truth." He waited to let his words sink in. As he suspected, she let the tears run freely. She must have been scared of his reaction. Uncharacteristically he lifted his hand toward her face and lifted her chin up. "Sakura-san, do not fear or be sad. You will be most welcome in the Senju-clan. I will introduce you to my brother, we will make a home for you there and find out a solution for your predicament. And please, call me Tobirama-san. Nidaima-sama makes me feel old and awkward. I have not yet earned such honorific." He was silent for a moment and then asked: "Can you tell me how you ended up in this time era?"
"Yes, I can tell you what I know. But I fear that I do not understand the technicalities of it. I was fighting in the Fourth Shinobi War. That is why I was wounded. Our enemy turned out to be the Kaguya goddess. In a chaotic moment of the battle she somehow threw me backwards. I felt myself flying through the air, until all went black. Apparently I landed into the past. My friends are still fighting there…. I hope they are alright…."
He interrupted her immediately. "Do not pain yourself with such thoughts. They are not fighting there. They do not exist yet."
She blinked. He was right. But it didn't feel like that in her heart.
"The war was headed towards the end of the world, Tobirama-san. When I was cast into the past, …. it was a desperate moment. In the end it seemed that even Naruto and Sasuke, my teammates were no match for her powers. The events that lead to this war are rooted in this time. I wonder if we can alter the future to prevent this war and consequently the ending of this world. But I am very wary that by disclosing information to you, history will change for the worst. What should I do? How should I proceed? I just cannot stay passive in this matter."
She was rattling. He vaguely realised she was apparently part of a team that was powerful enough to fight the biggest threat they ever faced. What did that say about her power?
"Sakura-san, I understand your doubts and resolutions. This however, is no place to discuss them. We are in Uchiha territory. Let us discuss the matter with Hashirama. Are you fit enough to travel to the Senju compound? It is a two day journey without injuries."
"I think so. If we can have some breaks when needed."
"Agreed." He pushed himself to stand. He held out his hand to her, a small curl in the corner of his mouth betraying his mood. She took it, noticing the callousness and warmth of his hand. He pulled her to her feet. "Do not worry kunoichi. All will be well. If you are stuck here. I will do all within my power to help you find your way." She felt warmth hitting her cheeks instantly, warmth and happiness. And then he took off into the trees. Silently cursing his speed, she followed suit.