Sakura stood in front of her mirror, looking at it. The person staring back at her felt foreign. Although a month had gone by since she had time travelled, her body didn't feel right. It was too small and fragile, lacking the muscles she had worked so hard to gain. She closed her fist tightly but no matter how many times she repeated the action, it just wasn't the same. The small flicker of strength gathered in her fingertips was mocking to her real potential but still, it was better than nothing.

Frustration had become a close friend lately even if logic and science told her it was a wonder her body even managed to survive the strain of being torn apart and cut by something nobody should ever meddle with: time.

It shouldn't have been possible.

And yet, here I am.

Sakura chose to take it as a miracle if only to strengthen her resolve. Miracles can happen. If she succeeded to do something that nobody ever did, then that had to count for something. She just had to cease moping around and see the bigger picture.

Help Naruto. Save people. Stop the war. Stop Sasuk—...

No. She firmly told herself, shaking her head. She didn't want to think about that now. Despite knowing that having to interact with him was unavoidable, Sakura wanted to prolong her inner peace. No matter how deluded it was.

She eyed the red dress she usually wore with a critical eye. Today she was officially becoming a ninja, for a second time. How impractical it was didn't escape her notice, as she clearly remembered Tsunade commenting that it had to go after taking her as an apprentice but she didn't want to make people more suspicious than they already were. She had given them enough reasons.

However, the kunai in her hand thought differently. The red material wasn't removed completely however, just shortened. The dress had been ridiculously long. Underneath, Sakura chose to wear a pair of black shorts, like the ones she used to wear before. She kept the blue sandals, pulled her hair up in a messy bun and decided that she will be going to buy a pair of combat gloves soon. She planned to take back her glory and she figured she had tortured her knuckles enough lately, with punching trees and the ground without anything to shelter them.

Taking one last glance in the mirror, satisfied with the balance between old and new, Sakura added the final touch and the most important of them all: her headband.

The pride of a ninja.

"I'm going now!" she yelled as she walked out of the room and down the stairs.

"Sakura, you haven't eaten anything!"

Mom, I don't think I'd be able to keep any food inside with the swirl of emotions gathered there.

She thought inwardly but turned around, kissed both of her parents' cheeks then grabbed three apples, rushing outside.

Right at that moment, Ino walked out of her own home. She expected the cold shoulder, because of what happened a few months ago before Graduation. Instead...

"I like your new style."

"Thank yo..."

"Just don't think that is enough to impress Sasuke-kun. Naruto, however...he'd adore you even if you wore a sack."

I should have seen this coming.

"Shikamaru would like you more if you weren't so noisy. But, it's part of your charm." Sakura retorted, giving her former best friend a pointed look. If that's how she wanted to play...

As expected, Ino donned a look of indignation. "Forehead, you can't be serious..."

"I am. He puts up with all your quirks even though he had more than once said they are traits that he could happily do without. Think about it."

Ino was successfully silenced...but not for long.

"You aren't going to win Sasuke-kun over by eliminating the competition."

Sakura wanted nothing more than to bang her head against the bark of a tree. Or Ino's but she understood.

And that was the saddest part. Once, she had been in the same place, with the exact mindset that brought her team nothing good in the long run. However, she knew Ino was better than how she had been. The Ino-Shika-Cho was too important. Sakura doubted she had ever failed Shikamaru and Chouji.

"Sasuke-kun had never really paid attention to us."

Not that she could blame him but once again, how dense she used to be, came to shake her wide awake least she'd end up falling once again in a sleep of ignorance. The amount of PSTD he must still suffer of, the nightmares...

"He knows our names. That means something." the blonde Yamanaka pointed out.

She blew a sigh. "We have been classmates for years. It'd be weird if he didn't. It proves nothing."

Ino opened her mouth again then closed it. Then opened it again. "That rumour that he likes girls with long hair..."

Sakura did wonder about that sometimes, as embarrassed as she'd be to admit it but only to guess who came up with it.

"You said it right, Ino. A rumour. Who knows who started it."

They reached their classroom, silently parting ways to find a seat. The pinkette could feel people staring but whether it was because she and Ino were acting civil with each other or because of her new look, she couldn't tell.

"Sakura-chan...?" Naruto stood there, unblinking, mouth slightly open, as if he was seeing her in a completely new light.

She smiled a little before realizing that wasn't the right thing to do. The blush on his whiskered cheeks had gotten worse, worse enough that she feared he'd pass out. Grabbing one of his cheeks firmly, she tugged on it. "Close your mouth. I don't look like your favourite ramen." she playfully chided him, letting go of his cheek once his face had turned back to normal.

He gave her his most blinding smile. "No, but you come as a close second Sakura-chan." he said, voice too young and high pitched to sound like proper flirting but that was Naruto and she wouldn't trade him for the world.

A laugh went past her lips. "Only second? I suppose I will have to do better next time." she said with a wink that had the Uzumaki blushing again.

"Don't wink at me like that Sakura-chan." Naruto complained, openly flustered, turning his head sideways, arms firmly crossed over his chest, trying to gather back his composure and what was left of his sanity.

Upon deciding that she had teased the blonde troublemaker enough for a day, Sakura took the seat, between him and Sasuke, a little reluctantly. It couldn't be helped. Even if she defied fate and chose another seat, that wouldn't change anything. Not the past they shared, nor their upcoming future.

Iruka walked in and the class was reduced to silence. He began a speech and just like that, Sakura felt her mind drifting, to another time, another place.

It was chaos. Body parts were flying, blood was everywhere she looked, including herself. She couldn't remember where hers ended and the blood of her comrades began. And it was a good thing, Sakura didn't want to know. Her nose had long become accustomed to the awful smell, not that she had a choice. It was in the air and air was everywhere.

They were no longer divided in groups but together, united as one, yet still scattered. Neji was taken down and she had been leagues away, not able to save him. That had been two days ago. Now, Gaara was making his way among the crowd of corpses and shinobi alike, travelling on his sand. She didn't get it, not at first but his usually unemotional eyes spoke volumes now. Sakura knew before he reached her. Just like she knew Sasuke was going to leave Konoha, or that something wasn't right with Kakashi-sensei during Pain's attack. She just knew. It was as simple and as complicated as that. People around were calling for her aid but she was refusing them all. If Naruto died, all they fought for would be in vain. She tried telling herself that it wasn't because Team 7 was always going to come first. That'd she wouldn't kill and sacrifice for them with no hesitation.

It felt surreal, to see Naruto pale and void of life, void of the spark and warmness that her brain was forever going to associate with him. Her mind might have been in shock but her body wasn't, her training effectively kicking in as her hand and healing chakra reached out to help. It wasn't working. Even as she was pushing more and more chakra, she couldn't have possibly hoped to fill the void left behind by Kurama being extracted.

'That dream of yours...it doesn't seem silly anymore!' she leaned over, performing CPR while pumping his heart with her bare hands.

After the Fourth Hokage succeeded to pass away his chakra, Sakura's eyes felt heavy. Her energy was drained but her mind kept whispering. 'If only had I been more capable...' The last thing she remembered. Then darkness.

"Team 7: Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura and Uchiha Sasuke." Iruka's words brought her back to the present and reminded her of the current reality she had to face.

"Iruka-sensei, why do I have to put up with a loser like Sasuke?!" Naruto loudly whined, standing up onto his chair, pointing a finger at the dark-haired avenger.

Taking a hold of his orange pants, she tugged on the material. "Sit down baka, don't make a scene." It was useless however. By now, everybody was making one. Even Hinata could be seen silently protesting the team arrangements.

"Because Naruto, Sasuke was at the top of the class. You were at the bottom."

Sakura sighed. One month of learning with her did some small wonders but she and Shikamaru both knew he still had a long way to go. Combat wise, she didn't worry at all. Naruto had been a brilliant shinobi on his own.

She tried not to think about how cold his still heart felt in her hands.

...

Lunchbreak arrived. Until their teachers made themselves known, they were free to do as they pleased while they waited but it was mostly time scheduled for eating. Sakura looked down at the three green apples inside her bag. She knew who she had in mind when she took them and yet...

She couldn't bring herself to fully complete her initial idea. The pinkette handed one to Naruto, aware he probably ate very rarely fruits. Then her eyes fell on Sasuke, sitting by himself under the shade of a tree. She bit her lip, looking down at the apple, then back at him a few times.

What is the point? He would only misunderstand my intentions.

She thought, spotting Shikamaru resting on the grass. There was no doubt that he was either asleep, prepared to, or watching the clouds. Upon approaching him, she hesitated however. His eyes were closed and he seemed at ease. A stark difference between the older Shikamaru, more weary, tired.

"You are blocking the sun, Sakura."

If it wasn't for him deciding to speak, she could have sworn he was sleeping.

"How did you know it was me?" she couldn't help but ask, genuinely curious.

"Easy. Anybody else would have been louder with their approach. Chouji has heavier steps and the sound of munching on food always follows. Ino would have disturbed the silence instantly. As for the others, there was a 30% chance it would have been someone else other than you."

Sakura found herself smiling, Shikamaru's tactical thinking never ceasing to impress her. "Mind if I join you?" she asked, moving to the side so she wouldn't block the sun rays any longer.

The shadow caster arched a brow, opening one eye to look at her. "It depends. Do you have more troublesome subjects to talk with me about?"

She shrugged innocently, trying to stop grinning. "Just one."

Shikamaru closed his eye and said nothing else. That was his silent agreement.

Sakura took it, laying down beside him on the soft grass, mirroring him and closing her eyes. She could understand why he so often sought out this. It was relaxing, a getaway.

"Well?"

"Thank you."

"You already did." it was rare to hear a Nara sound confused but as amusing as it was, she continued:

"For helping Naruto. Now, it's for talking with Ino. When she spoke to me this morning, I knew you told her something that changed her mind." the time traveller said, handing one apple to him.

He opened his eyes, a gentle expression on his face. "You don't give her enough credit. I just gave a small push."

She shook her head. "That small push, came from you. Ino doesn't listen to just about anybody."

Shikamaru remained silent, taking the apple with a nod of gratitude. Sakura smiled to herself, before taking the last apple and placing it in his other hand. She stood up quickly and before he could have said something, she called out:

"Ino-Pig! Shikamaru wants to talk with you."

The blonde gave her the stink eye but passed by her and walked towards her teammate nevertheless.

Noticing her own teammate nearby, Sakura approached him.

"Did you just...play matchmaker Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked, half confused and half stunned.

She was slightly taken aback by how aware he had gotten of his surroundings, of stuff in general. A part of her wondered if he had always been like that. "It will not be so easy. Or certain that something will come out of it."

When Temari and Sai come into the picture...

"Hey, small steps count as big in the long run dattebayo. You taught me that." He nudged her friendly in the arm, looking ahead at the currently arguing duo. Well, it was more like Ino scolding Shikamaru and him taking it calmly, mumbling "troublesome woman" every now and then.

She gave him a smile.

"I myself had a good teacher."

It couldn't have been less true.

You taught us that, Naruto. The you from the future.

Step by step, he had succeeded to conquer not the world, but the hearts of people. Slowly, patiently, then all at once. Even when things seemed without hope. As much of a hassle as re-living her teenage years for a second time was going to be, Sakura was happy.

I get to watch you do the impossible and grow before my eyes one more time.

"Why are you crying Sakura-chan?" Naruto's concerned voice made her realize that she was indeed crying. He gently wiped the sole tear that fell on her cheek away with his thumb. "I'm gonna miss this place too. As boring as it was, I met Iruka-sensei here and you but we are ninja now and new paths lead to change, not necessarily a bad one. Not on my watch dattebayo."

He watched Sakura nod determined, regaining her composure. "Not on our watch. " she corrected him and the fierceness in her green eyes was one more reason that reminded him why he loved her so much.

They made their way back inside the classroom, to wait for their future sensei.

...

Seeing Kakashi, aloof and pretending to be as dense as a wall of bricks had stirred up mixed feelings within her. It was comforting, for one. To feel like a genin once more, dependant on her jonin instructor for protection, for advice, guidance. It was an illusion, of course. One that got far too soon broken. There were stronger people out there than their sensei and that realization, Sakura clearly remembered, had shaken them to their core.

She had forgotten how Kakashi used to be prior to them bonding as a team. She could only recall the kind of smile a father gave his children, the way he would ruffle their hair and act as mediator whenever Naruto and Sasuke got into one of their fights, his promise to protect them. The proud look he worn the day he witnessed the results of her training with Tsunade-sama. His cold behaviour now was to be expected but it didn't bode well with her. Instead of playfully teasing Naruto, he was belittling him mercilessly, ignoring her, and being mildly pleased by Sasuke, but not impressed.

We aren't Team 7 yet.

The introductions on the roof were as she vaguely remembered. The jonin whose hair defied gravity had nothing personal to share, Sasuke had spoken of revenge and Naruto of ramen and his dream. All were the same.

Just not hers.

"I'm Haruno Sakura and my dream is of a peaceful world, a better reality, a renewed shinobi system and my precious people safe and happy. The rest, is all tied one way or another to the bigger picture."

The picture I was too blind to see in the past but I am seeing it now.

A/N: I haven't updated this story in forever and my only excuse is: lack of inspiration. Sakura time travel fics are amazing and I've read my fair share of good stories. I can only hope mine lives up at least a little to some of them. I'm also struggling to be original (as original as I can be when I take a bit of canon as guidance). All in all, thank you if you hadn't given up on this story and I hoped you liked reading this chapter.