As always,

"before" is before the academy

"after" is after the chunin exams

"then" is during the fourth war

and "now" is the current time

Now:

Sakura walked aimlessly around the village when she saw different people smiling and waving at her. This was much too odd for her to comprehend. Her dark complexion was a problem from her past, her old, different life. Her poof was constantly falling, she felt too much static in the air, there were too many friendly faces, there was just... something that she couldn't put her finger on.

Ino had called her a princess, this damned cat followed her around like there was no tomorrow, the young child even tried losing the damn thing but it just kept finding her, and all of the Uchihas were fucking alive. She was 22 for gods sakes, why was this so complicated for her?

She climbed up a tree to hide from others who all seemed to know who she was, crossed her arms, and huffed out her frustrations. The cat, Cosmos, had made its way into her lap and placed a paw on her chest. His cool dark grey eyes looked into hers as if it understood her inward struggle. A brown hand found its way upon the black kitty's back to pet it softly. The poor thing was probably just as confused as she was. She was supposed to be it's owner, right?

"Alright," the young child spoke softly, "where should I go?"

The cat jumped off the young child and glanced in her direction as if it asked her for her permission to follow. Pink eyebrows furrowed together but nonetheless, Sakura jumped out of the tree and followed her charge.

Before:

"Sakura-chan!" her blonde mother chided. Mebuki was strong, sensible, but always, always cautious. She never once yelled at her child in public, she never once questioned her need to be a ninja, and she never ever objected her husband's words.

She knew what she had, a dark-skinned child who could never truly know the truth of her birthplace. Her child, such a young and sweet child, knew that people in this village hated her. They didn't understand her dark skin, they didn't understand that they wouldn't survive in Kiri, they didn't understand what the hell Mitsuru saw in her and how they truly loved each other.

Mitsuru had taken them in when they were escaping the war-torn Kirigakure, where Sakura could not grow up in. The horror of her homeland was filled with so much hatred she wanted to get out of there more than anything. It had happened by chance, but their love grew over a cup of tea and laughter.

When Mebuki was forced to leave her family, it was more than heartbreaking. But the way she had to leave was cruel... At least she wouldn't have to live through another death of someone close to her. She gave as much as she could to Sakura, to Mitsuru, to everyone she ever met and cared for. She knew her daughter would find out the truth eventually, they would take her to see where she rested.

They took too much from her Sakura. She cried the night she had to leave her home, her letters and trinkets would be found by the only other seer of magic in Konoha. She would learn to control her powers, she had to. If the future she foresaw was true, then she had to grow and learn quickly.

She had to fix everything her ancestors worked so hard to destroy.

After:

She found them, one by one, her mother's letters explaining her powers. The letters that explained what she needed to do to prepare. She never knew what future her mother was referring to, something that she didn't understand yet, but she knew it would be life or death. The nagging feeling in the back of her heart knew that it was true. That's what Inner told her, anyway.

"Sakura, you need to focus!" Inner scolded harshly. Sakura wiped the sweat off of her brow with the back of her glove. Her training under Tsunade was getting tougher by the day and she was growing more tired as each day passed. She never complained, she knew what it meant when she did. Her training would stop immediately and she would be left without a teacher once again.

On days like these, she felt bitter. Sasuke had left them behind for a chance at power with a man who sweats killing intent like it was nothing. Naruto had left to train and grow stronger, saying he couldn't stay within the village to do so. Kakashi-sensei had left her without a trace, she asked for him once, looked for him, but he was determined to have nothing to do with her or any reminders of Team 7. She understood that Sasuke was confused and angry, she understood that Naruto had to train because people were after him, but Kakashi-sensei? He had no excuse. He left without a word, not caring what happened to her.

So on days like these, she let the bitterness fester and grow and used the frustration and anger that grew from it in her training. Her punches would have more force, her concentration would be fuller, she would be more tired by the end of the day, of course, but it was worth it.

But she would never ever let her Inner take over her body again. Not after what happened. Not after knowing the cost of her destruction. Not after it got her mother... killed.

Now:

The midnight black cat wondered down an unfamiliar street to her, she was well within the shinobi district, she knew that much, and when her ninkin looked back at her she realized that she reached a small compound near the beginning of a forest. Mebuki stepped out of the front gate and had her hands on her hips, "Sakura, just where have you been?" Her tone was soft but firm, one she only ever used within the household.

Green eyes blinked back owlishly, her mouth too stunned that her mother used such words in public. Where the hell is she?

This was another quick chapter I whipped up right after I posted chapter 3 but never got around to perfecting or uploading, I hope the story is progressing just how you guys like, and I hope I can get back on a regular updating schedule with this story! Thanks for your love!

-Tiny