A couple weeks later after rigorous training Tsunade gave Sakura an entire day to herself and the first thing Sakura did was write letters to everyone including Cee who hadn't written to her for awhile.
"Sakura your pretty late this morning" Gaara commented when he saw her heading for the gates of the village, Reto and Tetsu hanging around like usual since they were trying their hardest to get use to Leaf Shinobi staying temporarily in their village.
Her smile was radiant "That's cause Shishou gave me the day off Gaara so I spent the past hour writing letters to send out" Sakura grinned waving the five letter scrolls in her hand at him each labeled with the intended receivers name.
There was a few he didn't recognize however but that wasn't his business instead Gaara followed Sakura outside the village where she summoned Katsuyu who split into five little versions of herself at Sakura's request.
Before vanishing in poofs of smoke to deliver the letters, just a few minutes before they reached the gates something shot down in front of Sakura and grabbed the girl up Sakura reacted in the way he expected of her.
Violently by punching the assailant and sending him flying "Are you alright Sakura" Gaara asked covering them with sand in case there were more attempting to take off with his friend who was breathing hard and shaking.
When a minute had passed and nothing else had happened he slowly lowered his sand "Owww Sakura-chan that was mean what did ya hit me for" a familiar voice to Sakura whined, her expression turned into anger.
"I should being asking you what the hell you were thinking Shisui-san by grabbing me like that" Sakura snapped harshly, face a mask of fury as she glared at the handsy Uchiha who was prone on the ground from where he'd landed after she'd punched him.
Shisui winced knowing he really shouldn't have but he couldn't help himself "Just wanted to hug you is that to much to ask Sakura-chan" Shisui pouted as she stormed towards him, lips curled and he realized she was really mad at him this time.
"Next time ask idiot, don't just grab, I'm getting pretty sick and tired of being yanked around like a rag-doll thank you very much and be lucky I wasn't using chakra" Sakura hissed in a viperous mood even as she healed him.
His head ducked further down "Hold on there's no way you weren't using chakra just now, you had to be because that felt like a chakra enhanced punch" Shisui jerked upright when she pulled away from him, chakra fading from her hands.
Sakura snorted "Fortunately for you I wasn't otherwise you would have been in a lot more pain, I've simply improved my strength" Sakura scoffed down at him as she stood and dusted off her short cheongsam dress.
"Ugh back to square one it seems" Shisui sighed pitifully even though he should have known better that to try and hug Sakura after what Hoshigaki had done to her, Tsunade sent regular updates that informed them that the pinkette was still struggling with had happened.
Gaara rolled his eyes at the mans melodramatics glad it hadn't been an enemy but he did follow Sakura the rest of the way to the gates where the three of them signed in, Shisui continued on ahead to the Kazekage Tower leaving them alone.
Once the annoying Uchiha was gone, Sakura leaned against the cliff wall pressing her face into her hands drawing Reto and Tetsu's attention "Everything okay Sakura-san" Reto inquired carefully just a little worried.
The girl was quiet for several seconds before she raised her head looking more tired than ever "I'm fine, only just had the life scared out of me a bit is all" Sakura finally sighed, forcing a smile onto her face as she stood up straight.
"A fellow Leaf Ninja tried to grab her when she wasn't expecting it" Gaara explained when Reto furrowed his brow in confusion, he hadn't felt any chakra besides the two in front of him and the one who'd headed towards the tower.
Though at Gaara's statement he understood "What are you afraid of if he's a fellow from your village" Tetsu interjected, a lot less delicately than Reto would have asked, Sakura pasted the most fake smile on her face that she could in response.
She was opening her mouth when someone she hadn't seen yet called out to her "Sakura-san it's been a long time since I've seen you" Baki commented from behind her, entering the village as he came back for a three week long solo mission.
Immediately the tension from her shoulders faded and her smile became more genuine "Yeah it has been awhile huh Baki-san, I'm a lot stronger now" Sakura greeted, wanting to forget all about Tetsu's question.
Baki provided the perfect distraction from it thankfully "Heh I would hope so that was the purpose of your training trip with Lady Tsunade after all wasn't it" Baki chuckled, refraining from reaching out to pat her on the head.
Sakura wasn't that little girl from before anymore after all "Ahem I asked you a question girl, I would like an answer if you don't mind" Tetsu cleared his throat as he sensed the kunoichi was purposefully trying to get out of answering his question.
Her face tightened and her shoulders went rigid with tension once more "That….is none of your business" Sakura said politely after a long moment of silence because she really didn't want to get into with yet another of the Kazekage.
"And that's where your wrong, it is my business seeing as Leaf and Sand are allies, are we not supposed to rely on each other, help each other when something is so clearly wrong" Tetsu shot back not backing down over this.
Reto wasn't very surprised when Sakura's green orbs lit up with fury, neither was Baki really then to their shock she deflated as if the very life had been sucked out of her "Lord Tetsu just drop it please" Sakura pleaded on the verge of tears.
Because she didn't want anyone else to know "Tetsu that's enough stop pressuring her, she's clearly distressed enough as it is without you demanding an answer from her that she doesn't want to give" Reto lead his successor of the Kazekage position away.
Gaara looked to his sensei who obviously wanted to ask what was going on himself but after watching Sakura practically break down he was wary about doing so "Come Sakura, Kankuro and Temari have been waiting for Lady Tsunade to give you a day off since you got here" Gaara declared.
Leading Sakura towards his house, inwardly promising to tell Baki what was going on later, once the pinkette was thoroughly distracted by his siblings and mother he slipped out of the house appearing before his sensei in a flurry of sand particles.
The man stared down at him "Hoshigaki tried to rape her…nearly succeeded to, Sakura's mental state is quite unstable in that she has regular nightmares and is apparently prone to being startled now if someone grabs her unexpectedly which results in violent reactions" Gaara stated.
"Hmm good riddance to him then, now go Gaara back to her before she starts to worry like she always does about things" Baki commented, expression expertly blank, watching his student body flicker before rubbing his temples.
A few hours later Sakura headed back to the hotel "We're rooming together Sakura-chan no objections" Shisui told her when he saw Sakura coming down the hall towards him and the girl shot him the dirtiest look she could.
"Like hell we are Shisui" Sakura growled to Tobirama's amusement as she stalked past the first Uchiha that he'd seen since returning "Shishou, Temari wants me to spend the night with her at the Kazekage Estate would that be alright" Sakura poked her head into her mentors room.
Tsunade waved her off "Just be careful alright unless you want everyone in that house to know about that" Tsunade warned, watching with some relief as Sakura lit up and became her most excited she'd been in awhile.
Five minutes later she'd packed the few amount of things she needed for her night away from the hotel "Sakura a moment if you would" Tobirama stopped her from bounding off completely, he and his brother had been working on this seal for sometime and had only just gotten it.
Sakura tilted her head to the side curiously but followed him into his room where Hashirama was as well "Sakura-chan we've been working on a seal that will suppress certain memories" Hashirama explained.
Once the door was sealed shut and the room was soundproofed "Quite, the question now is will you allow us to apply it to you" Tobirama questioned, locking gazes with the young kunoichi, willing her to trust him and his brother.
"I trust you Tobirama-sama, Hashirama-sama, can you explain exactly how it's supposed to work though" Sakura inquired, assuring the two men that she trusted them to use fuinjutsu on her, they'd had the former Uzumaki Matriarch teaching them after all.
Hashirama sighed in relief "Thank you Sakura, and basically its like putting a box around certain memories you don't want to see and throwing away the key, we've tested it and it's also easily undo-able later on down the road" Hashirama informed.
Verdant orbs widened and a flash later the seal was merged into her head a second after all the memories pertaining that day was locked firmly away in a box "I have no idea how I'm ever going to be able to thank you two for this" Sakura commented.
Looking like years had been taken off her shoulders now that those memories couldn't plague her anymore "Your important to Tsunade whose been tearing herself apart inside trying to think of something herself so just show your alright from now on that will do" Tobirama grimaced.
Knowing that Tsunade was equally as important to Sakura "Now go on and have fun with your friend Temari okay Sakura-chan" Hashirama nudged the pinkette off who was finally showing signs of life.
As she rushed back to the Kazekage Estate where Temari was waiting "What the heck took so long" Temari huffed, leading Sakura to her bedroom, she didn't answer just yet not until they were stood in the room.
Then Temari watched Sakura seal and soundproof her entire room "Did Gaara say anything to you yet Temari….no, oh, well this isn't going to be easy so you better sit Temari" Sakura grimaced realizing her friend didn't know.
Eight minutes later, it had taken four minutes to calm Temari down, they were sitting on her bed now "Kami none of us had any idea Sakura, don't you worry though, those bastards will never touch you again" Temari grumbled darkly.
"Makes me feel better, so that's what took so long Lord First and Second concocted a seal that allows me to seal certain memories and I let them apply it to me, now those nightmares can't haunt me anymore" Sakura finished explaining.
Temari hummed "Well that was nice of your two previous Hokage's, now are you ready to have some fun" Temari asked trying to direct the conversation onto more pleasant things, Sakura grinned eagerly indicating that she was definitely ready.
Rasa was surprised to see her at the dinner table that night and he quirked his brow on her "Oh, dear me seems I forgot, our daughter requested that Sakura-san spend the night Rasa" Karura suddenly remembered.
When she saw her husband shooting the rosette questioning looks which turned into concern at the announcement to her confusion, Sakura however smiled easily telling him there was nothing to worry about hopefully.
"Speaking of, there seems to be a rather depressed fellow sitting outside" Yashamaru chimed in, gesturing out the window, Sakura turned her head then rolled her eyes in annoyance upon seeing who the person was.
Kankuro smirked "Leave him, he'll go away eventually if I ignore him long enough" Sakura snorted, she really wasn't in the mood to deal with Shisui's antics at the moment anyway so he could whine about it all he wanted.
A crimson brow quirked upwards "Isn't he a fellow shinobi, one who lives in your house as well" Rasa inquired curious to find out what Sakura was thinking about, she seemed to be doing better at least to his relief.
"Shisui-san is indeed a fellow shinobi and does live in the house, but he is the single most annoying person in existence, let him in just once and he'll try to drive everyone insane, plus I'm still miffed at his stunt from this morning" Sakura sniffed.
Gaara nodded of course she'd still be angry "Care to tell us what he did exactly Sakura" Kankuro asked, shooting a look out the window to spy Shisui who looked pretty freaking pathetic at the moment if he was being honest.
Sakura's face twitched "Shot down in front of me and grabbed me, then had the nerve to whine about it when I punched him when he deserved it" Sakura snorted lightly not seeing anything funny even when Kankuro bust his gut laughing.
Though she didn't attempt to stop him from laughing either, like she said however Shisui trudged off back to the hotel "On edge, don't blame you" Gaara noted easily when the tension in her shoulders faded.
"Right we have a couple hours of daylight left and I want to show Sakura the greenhouses" Temari jumped up once they were finished with dinner, Sakura let herself be dragged off by the enthusiastic blonde.
And when they came back Sakura had learned quite a deal about the herbs that were grown within the Hidden Sand Village "Have fun did you" Yashamaru noted as he spotted the two kunoichi settled on a couch in the living room.
"Mm I did Yashamaru-san, Temari showed me all her favorite flowers then took me to the herb greenhouses" Sakura said softly, wearing down for the night apparently as midway through she let out a jaw-cracking yawn.
Yashamaru chuckled lightly and watched when not long after Sakura and Temari excused themselves to take a shower then head to bed soon after "Rasa is everything alright, I noticed you shooting Sakura-san looks of concern" Karura rounded on her husband.
Once all three of her children had disappeared for the night "I learned from her mentor that she has nightmares of an attack that happened to her back in Kumogakure and she often wakes up screaming" Rasa admitted.
Unable to hide the truth from his wife though he omitted exactly what kind of attack almost happened Karura was still rather horrified "Poor girl, she seems to get it from all angles doesn't she" Yashamaru frowned.
Rasa nodded grimly in answer "Sometimes I wonder how she ever forgave me for having her tortured in front of her former Hokage" Rasa sighed, knowing that some of what Sakura feared was his fault as well.
Karura stared at him "A child Rasa, you tortured a child….you obviously regretted it and that's probably why Sakura-san probably forgave you" Karura gasped, then saw the regret deep within his hazel eyes.
"She's pretty selfless, obedient to, I have no doubt that should anything happen Sakura-san would be the first one here to aide us against the enemy" Yashamaru commented and his brother in law nodded again.
Later on after they'd gone to bed themselves, Rasa slipped out of bed and headed down the hall to his daughters bedroom, discretely he poked his head into the room and spied Sakura sleeping peacefully to his relief before he headed back to bed.
The next morning after breakfast with them Sakura bounded off to training with her mentor full up on energy, Gaara hurried off after her since he'd been actively involving himself in her evasion training the past couple of weeks.
None of them knew that the happiness wouldn't last and like a mirror the peaceful atmosphere was about to shatter five days later "For the last time Shisui no I'm not letting you use your sharingan on me" Sakura snapped when the man wouldn't leave her alone.
He'd been pestering her incessantly the past six days asking her to let him use his kotoamatsukami on her "Sakura-san" Reto appeared out of thin air in the next moment, having heard her raise her voice to a vocal cord destroying volume.
Sakura shot the most frostiest glare she could at Shisui then stalked off towards the first Kazekage "Yes Lord Reto" Sakura inquired politely, Reto smirked then placed his hand on the small of her back and led her away from the annoying Uchiha.
All the way to the Kazekage Tower to her confusion "Rasa received some letters from the Cloud Village, but he realized they were intended for you seeing as your name was on them" Reto explained when she furrowed her brow in concern.
Excitement lit up in her expressive green eyes as she pretty much left him in the dust in the next moment "I'm sorry Kazekage-sama I'll be more careful next time" Sakura bowed once she'd collected her letters from him.
One of which was the ultra coveted letter from Cee that she'd been impatiently waiting for, Rasa waved his hand dismissively in response and watched in slight amusement as she bounded off back to the hotel.
Where more good news was given "Letters from Minato and that brat Sasuke" Tsunade dropped two more letters in her hands already full of letters from Karui, Omoi and Cee, Sakura thanked her profusely then disappeared into her room to read the letters.
The first one was Cee's of course, he apologized for the misunderstanding thinking that she no longer wished to write to him as she'd written to him about going to Mount Myoboku for three months and asked that they continue exchanging letters again.
Not that she would refuse anyway, next were the letters from Karui and Omoi, they detailed their exploits on missions with Samui and Atsui now that they were chunin, fourth was the letter from Minato and last was the letter from Sasuke.
When she read it she couldn't believe her eyes so she read the letter a second time, then a third and that's when panic truly set in because Sasuke had detailed in his letter that Shisui was laid up in the hospital from an attack over a month ago.
Her heart stopped and she spread out her senses but she could feel him anymore, fear took over as she flew up off the hotel bed and back outside searching everywhere "What on earth is she doing" Tetsu frowned.
Seeing the pinkette run past him "I have no idea Tetsu but we can ask" Reto offered appearing before Sakura who was unable to stop quick enough and slammed into him sending the both of them sprawling out on the ground.
"Lord Reto have you seen that nuisance from earlier" Sakura inquired after popping up and heaving him onto his feet in one smooth movement, anxiously looking around as sweat beaded on her forehead.
Reto shook his head "He spoke with Gaara and they left the village….what Sakura-san, what is it" Reto explained only to grow very concerned when Sakura grew alarmed at what he was telling her and then came the news.
"That wasn't Shisui, I don't know how he has the same chakra but I just got a letter from my teammate back in the village who said that Shisui is laid up in the hospital because he was attacked a month ago" Sakura explained.
Both former Kazekage immediately straightened "We'll go inform your companions and Rasa, you go, find Gaara at any cost" Tetsu ordered, Sakura turned and ran as if the hounds of hell were nipping at her heels.
Only stopping briefly to scribble her name on the sign out sheet, she spread her senses again and felt Gaara's chakra on the very edge of them to her relief, it calmed her a little so she wasn't completely panicked now.
As she started towards Gaara "Sakura is everything alright" Gaara questioned when Sakura wandered towards him and Shisui who'd been trying to convince him to convince Sakura to let him use his sharingan on her.
Sakura didn't speak until she was at his side "Might as well give it up you bastard I know that you are not the real Shisui unfortunately for you, who probably didn't count on me getting a letter from my teammate who tells me everything" Sakura sneered at the man in front of her.
For a moment it seemed like the fake Shisui was going to continue the ruse before his features changed and he became Zetsu again "Looks like playtime is over/This time you won't escape me" the two sides of the hideous dual man/creature said.
Lunging at Sakura who slammed her fist into his face reflexively sending him flying backwards, this time she was using chakra "Fuck you Zetsu, I'll never forgive you for trying to impersonate someone that I care about" Sakura raged after him.
Gaara who had been shocked to find that Shisui wasn't Shisui for a moment quickly prepared his sand ready to use it should he spot an opening and shadowed Sakura's every move as she launched into her next attack as Zetsu came after her again.
"Be on the lookout Gaara, this bastard could have backup, just watch out for white things on the ground, they explode" Sakura warned him once he was within range again before he had to jump as the ground shattered beneath their feet.
Zetsu was relentless but one thing he didn't count on was Sakura being an extremely calculative person in physical combat as she countered each and every one of his moves, he got cocky though when Sakura stumbled for a split second.
Never realizing it was a trap "SAKURA" Tsunade yelled only seeing her apprentice being rushed by the freak from Akatsuki, Sakura inhaled deeply then when the bastard was within range slammed her hand into his side.
Placing a paper tag that remained unnoticed as he went sailing backwards again "I've got you now" Sakura grinned, weaving hand signs rapidly "Seal" Sakura finished in record time and in a blinding flash of light Zetsu was sealed within the tag that she'd left on him.
Tsunade put a hand to her heart "Don't scare me like that" the busty blonde scowled as she reached Sakura and pulled the almost fifteen year old girl into a bone crushing hug that Sakura happily returned.
Just then Rasa along with Temari, Kankuro, Baki and the two former Kazekage arrived on scene "Where is he, the bastard you said wasn't the real Shisui-san" Rasa glared around not seeing anyone other than his youngest, Sakura and Tsunade.
Who released Sakura and she walked over to a tag that was laying innocently on the ground "Here Kazekage-sama, he's in here, this is the only way I could think of to stop him from coming after anyone else ever again" Sakura explained.
Holding up the tag while glowering murderously at it "What about your barrier Sakura, couldn't you have put him in one of them instead so that we could talk to him and try to get information out of him" Baki frowned.
Even more so when Sakura shook her head "Useless Baki-san especially when this particular Akatsuki member can slip through barriers, he would have escaped if I'd done that instead" Sakura admitted.
"So does that mean the Akatsuki are down by three active members now, alright way to go Sakura" Temari cheered realizing what this all meant for them, it was one less threat towards Gaara, Naruto and the other Jinchuuriki.
Wary just in case the lot of them headed back for the Sand Village "Come on Sakura I think you deserve a treat of your choice" Kankuro declared suddenly as Temari latched on to their mutual friend and the three of them plus Gaara vanished.
Tsunade scowling after them before heading back to the inn, the tag that held Zetsu tucked away in her pouch, meanwhile the former Kazekage's followed the current Kazekage back to his office "Rasa that girl is powerful, she'd strengthen this village if you married her to one of your sons" Tetsu stated.
Rasa scoffed "I will not take that right away from her Lord Tetsu I believe Sakura-san has been through enough without me forcing Kankuro or Gaara on her" the redhead informed bluntly in a tone that should broker no arguments.
Unfortunately this person was someone who could argue with him and get away with it without consequence before his predecessor and all "You better start explaining Rasa, that girl is to different, abnormal even and I don't trust her" Tetsu demanded.
"Look Lord Tetsu, there are many things about Sakura-san that are different but it doesn't mean she's untrustworthy, why else would she risk her life to run out and save Gaara from an impostor" Rasa said slowly.
Hoping to end this once and for all while keeping to his promise "Who's to say she's not from that organization herself or better yet how do we not know she's one of Orochimaru's subordinates that he sent to infiltrate the Leaf Village" Tetsu frowned.
Glaring when Rasa rolled his eyes "Now that's just ridiculous Lord Tetsu, I know for a fact that Sakura-san loathes the Snake Sannin and why would she be trying so hard to protect Jinchuuriki if she was from the Akatsuki organization" Rasa scoffed.
Finding the accusations completely ludicrous "Tetsu, Rasa is right, he's not going to conform to your demands either" Reto interjected when the two continued to glare at one another neither backing down because they were to headstrong.
Tetsu grunted in annoyance before stalking off "Is it true that she hates the Sannin you told us about" Reto questioned once it was just him and Rasa alone in the mans office, wanting to get more information.
"Yes….according to Sakura-san, he massacred her birth village, including her biological parents and she found out from the only other person who survived the attack, believe me there is no way she would ever work for that slimy bastard" Rasa assured.
The hatred in her eyes had been enough for him, Reto wandered off after that pleased with the information he'd gained as he found where Tetsu was prowling, outside the tea shop where those four were having a late afternoon snack.
He wasn't surprised to see Sakura sitting closest to Gaara however, protective even now as she chit-chatted with the siblings before heading off back to the hotel for the rest of the afternoon and evening clearly intending on holing herself up for the rest of the day.
Five days later Sakura turned fifteen and to her relief/annoyance she finally got her first period, a month and two days after that Tsunade decided it was time to move on from Sunagakure so Sakura bid her friends farewell and they made for Kirigakure for a week.
To commemorate the treaty Minato had managed to wiggle in with the Mizukage somehow, and the remaining time they had left on the training trip the five/six of them counting Kasumi wandered for about three weeks before going back to Sakura's birth island until it was time to finally go back home to Konohagakure.