"Hashirama, your smile is starting to creep me out," Madara told him while crossing his arms.
He looked over at the man who seemed to be thinking about something. They were looking over the area that the two decided long ago would be their village. The clans were now officially allies and they had much to do in order for their plans to progress but not long after they started to discuss what to do, Hashirama seemed to begin to daydream and wouldn't stop grinning.
"I can't be happy?" he asked, still smiling.
"You're acting a little too happy," he commented.
"I have a good reason to be." Madara rolled his eyes, watching the trees blow in the wind.
"How long do you think it will take to build everything?"
"Hopefully within a few months. I am requesting for a few of the Uzumaki to stay with us. Even though we already established an alliance we have not really come together," Hashirama replied, glancing at his friend.
"Would the pink haired girl be coming with them?" Hashirama gave a sly smile at the question.
"Of course. We need someone to keep you in line," he said with a grin backed by laughter.
"Watch yourself! I'll throw you off this damn cliff," he retorted. "How long have you had the alliance?" Madara questioned, eyebrows knitted.
"It has been official for almost a year now but we have talked about it for nearly three years," he said looking at the sky. "I am hoping Ashina-sama will let Sakura come to stay with us. She is the only reliable medic anyone has and Uzushio may need her but I know she will want to stay here," he trailed off, his fingers to his lips as he was lost in thought.
"Why would she want or need to be in our village? I know it cannot be for medical reasons since you are capable of teaching others," Madara commented, turning to face his friend.
"Uh..." he paused, unsure what to say. For the first time he had said something without thinking it through and did not have a good response.
"Hashirama, what are you hiding?" Madara was not stupid and would not let it go like Tobirama would.
"Aniue you have a message from Mito-san," Tobirama said as he approached them with swiftness.
"Right. I must go now. Speak with you later," he said, rushing off and leaving the other two in question.
"You are a savior Tobirama!"
She looked over Uzushiogakure from Tori Tower, arms crossed over and resting on the rails. They had to leave so quickly Sakura had no time to ask Hashirama anything. She sighed heavily, wondering what she would do. She had students here and wanted to make sure they were advancing enough for the clan and village. But Konoha was going to be built, her home was going to exist again. Sure it wouldn't be the same but she would still be home.
That was a problem she began to think long and hard about. She had actually made this place her home and it would make her feel guilty if she left, knowing there is a chance she may not feel comfortable back in Konoha. There was so much she wanted to think about but it was so overwhelming that she couldn't think at all.
"Sakura-chan, you seem troubled," Mito said as she walked up next to her.
"I am. There are some things I cannot seem to figure out," she said with a heavy sigh.
"Just remember to relax. We were in battle for some time and so much has happened since then. Maybe you just need to do something different to clear your mind," Mito said with a smile, leaning on the rails like Sakura.
"You seem to be happy," Sakura commented with a slight smile.
"I am." Mito looked over to Sakura, tapping her finger on the rail. "Sakura-chan, I have anger Ojii-sama."
"What?" she questioned, looking confused.
"I never told anybody. Not even you…" she started looking desperately guilty at Sakura. "Those few times when I went with groups to the mainland were more eventful than anyone knew. Senju-sama… that is Hashi-kun and I have been quite close."
She knew where this was going. Sakura held back her urge to laugh at the irony. They were going to be together anyway and she had no idea. To think he pursued his wife much quicker in this time may be expected given how much he seemed to fawn over her. Honshi was not happy with any of the alliance talks and probably would not have liked them being together.
"Hashirama proposed before we had left," she said looking down. "It would mean Senju have more reason to seek Uzumaki fuinjutsu and aid on their side. Ojii-sama feels it is a ploy but I truly believe he is a good man…" she became very defensive and panicked.
"He has good intentions. You are talking with someone who never got along with the elders," she gave a reassuring smile. "If you love him and want to marry for more than alliance reasons then do it."
Mito was completely shocked, she knew Sakura was supportive but her confidence in this was reassuring somehow. She was not shocked at all by the confession. Now there was only one problem remaining. She had not anticipated bringing it up so soon. Explaining herself was the only plan she had at the moment.
"Will you come with me?"
Sakura was taken aback by the sudden outburst of emotion. Mito was usually composed, but it wasn't completely new to Sakura when these moments arose. When she needed a friend Sakura would be there to help ease the burdens she held. And again Mito had no idea about Sakura's own predicament of wanting to return to what would be considered her childhood home. Even if not in this timeline.
"I would go with you... but everyone here. None of the medics I have trained are ready to be on their own and there are not enough of them if by chance they go into battle."
"What about your three rules?" Miyo asked from behind them, startling the two.
"What?" Mito asked.
"First rule, No medic shall ever stop treatment until the lives of their party have come to an end. Second rule, no medic shall ever stand on front lines. Third rule, No medic shall ever die until they are the last of their party," she recited. "If those are the rules and we follow, then the rest of the team would be there to fight. And everyone is capable of handling things here."
"Glad you remember," Sakura smiled. "Still I wouldn't feel right leaving, there is still so much you all need to learn."
"Then see if you can take a few with you, train them in the village and send them back to teach us," Miyo argued with a bratty tone.
"Why are you here?" Sakura argued.
"Uh…" she froze up and tried to find an excuse.
"Why do you want us to leave so badly?" Mito questioned crossing her arms, leaning her hip to the side.
"Because no one will catch me when I do something I shouldn't be," she smiled.
Sakura and Mito looked at each other with an amused look. It was true and Miyo was not afraid to admit it, but they knew Uzashi was the real reason the two found out about what she did. If they left then he would still catch her, and Miyo would still get in trouble. Though she didn't seem to count on something like that happening.
"I would say take you with us..." Mito started.
"But that is just out of the question and could end badly for other people..." Sakura finished.
Sakura couldn't help but giggled at the expression Miyo made. She would miss this so much if she left. But if she stayed, what would Mito do? That could alter things in a very bad way. As much as she wanted to be happy, Sakura had almost forgotten that she was there to change the future for the better. Mito may be the push she needs to make sure things turn out.
She also forgot about Madara. They may have created an alliance but that did not mean it was over. Hashirama had trusted her enough to send her back even without knowing her well. So she had to make sure she did everything she could to keep things right this time. Her power was amplified while being with the Uzumaki, thus she was confident she could do whatever was needed to keep things peaceful.
"Mito-chan..." The woman looked at Sakura, still amused by the little girl. "I'll go if you do," she smiled.
"Arigato," she sighed in relief.
"Mito-sama, you have a message," one of the women said from the other side of the tower.
"There it is," Miyo whispered.
Sakura leaned on the rail once again as Mito shooed the little girl away so she could read her message. It made her feel better about her decision when she saw the happiness in Mito's eyes. If anything she wanted to go so that her friend could be happy. She was in love and couldn't be happier. She pinkette couldn't help but to admit she was a bit jealous.
She envied Mito so much, especially knowing how her future played out. She was obviously in love with her future husband, had children and eventually grandchildren, and lived a long life. She never thought about it too much since she was, as she hated to admit, an emotional person. The thought of not being able to find that kind of love herself was a bit heartbreaking. If she did find someone, she would be too afraid she would screw up someone's future thus changing everything else like a ripple effect. Sure things weren't going to be the same regardless of her being in this time, there was still much that could happen.
She shook her head and turned to the redhead who was reading over the scroll. Just from a glance she could tell it was Hashirama's handwriting. Instead of dwelling on things, Sakura decided to just live her life as long as she could and try to be as happy as she can with her mission. It was all she felt she could do now. Keeping an eye on Madara was important.
"You still seem troubled," Mito commented.
"I'm fine. What does Honshi-sama have to say about all this?"
"Why don't you go ask him?" she giggled.
"I'll pass."
A furious Honshi would become angrier finding out about Mito going on Sakura's support and company. Before leaving she glanced over to Mito, seeing how calm she had become so quickly as she read her message. Sakura smiled, now understanding what Hashirama meant about it taking time for Mito to warm up to him last time.
Night fell too quickly for the restless. After they met back up, the clan leaders had to go over plans for the village and even with a whole day of work did not have much planned as of yet. It would take time, yes but it was going to be stressful. Madara wasn't able to calm his mind with all his worries racing through his head. He was laying out on the roof of his home, watching the full moon.
It was difficult to get over things so quickly to build a whole village but it was for the best. His clan would need new stability, even though it pained him to go on with this knowing Izuna had been against it. If he had only gone with his better judgment earlier and had spoken up about it, Izuna had a chance to be healed and live on. And eventually he would have understood how the alliance would have helped the clan. He missed his brother dearly and would never truly forgive Tobirama for what he had done. Even if it was a war it was hard to forgive such things. He understood that well, along with many of the clan. But he had to be an example, to show that the adult's hatred and the children's hatred of today can be held back so the future generations can know peace and have an easier time letting the past go.
He leaned up with a sigh, rubbing his temple. Hashirama did not make things easier, being vague and constantly gazing off as he daydreamed. One thing he did relate to Tobirama was the fact every time one of them were around the Senju leader, they would slap him to snap him out of it. He could only say or do so much, his own thoughts were occupied by one person. Uzumaki Sakura.
Madara couldn't help but smirk when thinking of the battle, wondering just what would have happened if he had more Chakra and wasn't so worn from the previous battle with Hashirama. He would actually consider fighting against her again just to see how well she could keep up. Where she could have possibly learned or developed such skill was intriguing to say the least. He had seen nobody, nobody, with such healing abilities except for Hashirama.
He admitted to himself that he would like to see her come with the Uzumaki when the village was built. Her attitude was refreshing and new when it came to women. The Uchiha women were all the same, ready for battle or to bare children for battle. Something that irked him when he realized the latter fact as he got older. Even the ally Clan's to the Uchiha had when fighting the Senju had similar women, many of them either too afraid to approach him or thought him to be cold hearted.
Sakura was definitely different. She had passion and did not seem to care if she spoke her mind. The woman was intelligent, as he could tell from a few different conversations with her, and she did not seem to think of him as more than just another person. She did not fear him the same way others did. She was cautious even through what fear he did see.
And she was kind to both sides of the battlefield. Madara had heard that she healed all the children, even the Uchiha. And even a few older people when she was on her own to avoid a conflict with her allies. It did make him question her loyalty but instead of jumping to conclusions like most people did, he wanted to find out firsthand why she did it. He was grateful regardless, since she helped save his clansmen.
With a sigh he jumped down, ready to retire for the night. Much was to be done in the upcoming months and he needed to start concentrating on it after a good night's rest.
