Hey guys, thanks so much for sticking with me and supporting this story! I'm planning to get this story more involved in the makings of the village, so we'll see more about the Hokage Hashirama, council, and development of the village with Sakura, as well as her own emotional journey.
Chapter 3: Courage
Hashirama had never been entirely fond of the Senju elders, but they generally deferred to his judgment. The Uchiha elders seemed far more meddlesome than anything he'd had to deal with before.
But clan heads were the biggest pain that he'd ever come across and having them on a council was irritating. It meant that he couldn't just make decisions himself and do whatever he wanted, which wasn't exactly what he was hoping for when he became the Hokage, but it made things slower. Technically, since it had been determined that the Hokage had final say, he could just ignore them altogether, but it wouldn't exactly foster the kind of village he wanted Konoha to be. So Hashirama listened to the banal argument between Yori Shimura and Inorou Yamanaka about the disclosing of clan secrets and history into a proposed library open to all the village.
He frowned, looking over at Yori Shimura's reddening face. As far as Tobirama had discovered, the Shimura clan had been suffering after an unknown and deadly illness had wiped out many of their members. Yori had become the clan head after his father had passed, and there was a lot of pressure on him to bring their family back into a high standing. The Sarutobi had reached out to the Shimura when they'd heard the news about the Uchiha-Senju alliance and the founding of Konoha, and Yori had eagerly accepted the invitation.
Hashirama had no qualms about the man wanting what was best for his clan, but it didn't mean that he necessarily liked him. Yori wasn't a particularly kind, compassionate or understanding. He reminded Hashirama a little too much of his late father, Butsuma. A little too concerned with secrecy; he seemed stuck in the mindset of a clan at was the kind of thinking that didn't have a place in Konoha, which Hashirama really didn't want to have to remind Yori of again.
However, despite the Shimura's tendency to oppose almost everything to do with progression into a new type of life, the other clans, the Sarutobi, Nara, Yamanaka and Akimichi were quite open and willing. Which, of course, meant that Yori felt like everyone was against him, and it simply wasn't true. The difference was that the other clans seemed abler and more willing to put aside old tradition in favour of new, compromising some things for the benefits that a village could provide.
"I don't see a reason to divulge information regarding my clan for just anyone to read," Yori argued.
"It's not information that could affect the clan in any way," Inorou replied. "It's general information that almost everyone can discover if they ask enough questions. What are you so afraid of?"
"Afraid?" A vein in Yori's temple bulged. "It's not a matter of fear, it's about protecting my people!"
Tobirama seemed to be getting agitated, Hashirama noted the crossing of his arms and then tapping of his finger on his bicep.
"Are you implying that we are not protecting our own clans?" Inorou asked, accusation in his voice.
"It's your choice," Yori replied after a moment, but the implication in his tone was clear.
Hashirama held back a sigh. Inorou's eyes narrowed and Tobirama looked at his brother, his eyebrow raised in askance of when he was going to intervene before the meeting spiraled out of control.
"Konohagakure is a village built on the foundation of trust and family. We are and will always be, strongest together," Hashirama said loudly, drawing the attention of the clan heads. "To move forward into the kind of future where we can stand proudly together and protect one another, we must have trust in our comrades." He looked at Yori. "I won't force you to be a part of this village, nor will I force you to participate in this exercise of trust. But I suggest you think about how this will affect the clan relations in the village in the future. Everyone has to take the first step sometime."
When faced with the Hashirama outside of the office of Hokage, it was easy to forget how serious and commanding he could be. When Hashirama needed to, he was more than capable of leading with a sense of ruthlessness, although it wasn't his favourite thing to do. He was well aware that he wasn't giving Yori Shimura a choice, but he had a vision of the future, and he'd be damned if a stubborn and narrow-minded man was going to stop it from happening.
He turned away from Yori, whose eyes had darkened in anger and shame, and addressed the rest of the council.
"As we've said, the library is only the first step into a bigger future. With the gathering of knowledge of all different clans and histories, we hope to inspire a thirst for knowledge. Which leads us to a Ninja Academy."
Before the interruptions could begin, Hashirama held up his hand.
"The plans are still in their infancy and for now, all I ask is that you keep an open mind until we can bring a proposal forth."
"Might I ask for a basic description for its purpose?" Shikaru Nara asked.
Tobirama answered.
"A school for children in the village, clan children, civilian children, who wish to become shinobi. A controlled environment for the development of basic skills. Something we never had."
"And what's that?" Shikaru asked, curiously.
"A chance for children to grow up in relative safety and learn how to be a shinobi without a battlefield," Madara said.
There was a solemn and thoughtful silence between them. Everyone at the table knew the pain of losing children on a battlefield, of seeing them slaughtered. Hopefully, it would appeal to them when the proposal for the academy was ready to be brought to the council.
"Unless there is anything else of importance to discuss, I'd like to have the first round of scrolls for the library in ten days time," Hashirama said, standing.
"Yes, Lord Hokage," the room murmured.
Hashirama was followed out of the meeting room by Tobirama and Madara. As soon as the door closed, Hashirama let out a big sigh and slumped his shoulders.
"Meetings are horrible," he complained.
"I agree," Madara said, rolling his shoulders. "Particularly with fools like Shimura."
"Mmm. He's not a fool, he's just…" Hashirama looked for the right word.
"Living in the past," Tobirama supplied.
"Exactly," Hashirama said, walking into the office of the Hokage.
Madara closed the door behind them.
"So," Hashirama said, sitting on his chair. "When can we bring in Sakura?"
"I had planned to already tell her, but decided against it," Tobirama said.
"Why?"
"I think it would be better to wait until she leaves the hospital," he replied. "She seems to be getting a little better."
"Matsuri thinks so too," Madara said.
"And when she leaves, she'll have more time to herself," Hashirama said thoughtfully. "Being occupied might help her."
Madara nodded, as did Tobirama.
"Have you heard anything about when she'll be leaving?" Hashirama asked, looking at Madara.
"I haven't seen her," Madara answered him quietly.
Hashirama stared at him for a moment, wondering why. Madara had gone to see her almost daily in the year she'd been asleep. What had changed since she'd woken up? Hashirama knew that Madara had seen her at least a few time in the first few days but since then?
"I'll find out this afternoon," Tobirama said. "We have a session together."
"Good," Hashirama said, leaning back on his chair and eyeing the paperwork on his desk with some reluctance. He glanced up at Madara. "How's the planning for the village security coming?"
Madara gave a one-shouldered shrug.
"I believe that it will need to be implemented as a half-finished idea so that we can see what works and what doesn't over time."
"We really need Sakura's input," Hashirama pouted.
Tobirama sighed.
"We can't rely on her for everything," he said. "Without her help, we managed it somehow, in her time, didn't we?"
"But she knows how it works already." Hashirama continued to pout.
"Don't be so lazy," Madara said, folding his arms over his chest. "You wanted to be Hokage."
Hashirama looked at his brother and friend.
"You're both awful."
Tobirama quirked his lips in amusement, and Madara just walked out with a roll of his eyes.
Sakura was proud of the fact that she never once touched the walking frame except to move it out of the way. She was glad that she didn't need the wheelchair anymore at all. But right now, she wished there was some kind of miracle fix for stamina and strength.
Sweat dripped from her brow and she panted, leaning over with both hands on her knees, wanting to throw up from exertion.
"This is pathetic," Tobirama said in a bored tone from his seat against the wall.
Sakura glared at him.
"Let's trade bodies then," she panted with irritation.
It was pathetic though. It had been eighteen days since she woke up from her coma. She'd put on a good amount of weight. She could eat basically normally again. She spent her mornings meditating and in chakra-therapy sessions, and the afternoons training with Tobirama.
The afternoons were hell. Tobirama, apparently, wanted to kill her. He pushed her hard and past her limits. But he wasn't mock-sparring with her, just observing and quietly talking with Madoka when her doctor came by. Sakura narrowed her eyes at the two of them. Plotting something, no doubt. Sakura went through another set of more advanced taijutsu stances before she finally grew sick of the observations of Tobirama and stormed over to him.
He gave her a look and she stood with her hands on her hips and chest heaving.
"What?" She asked. "What is going on?"
"Ah, Sakura." Madoka's voice came from the right. He walked toward her with a chart in his hand. "Has Lord Tobirama given you the good news?"
"What news?" She asked.
"The progression of your recovery has been outstanding, honestly. Likely due to your own knowledge and intervention in treatment," he said. "So you're free to go home."
Sakura stared at him and then blinked slowly, swallowed a little and gave a nod.
"Okay," she said.
He frowned at her.
"As much as you've improved, if you don't feel up to it, you can stay longer if you want," he said with some concern.
"She's fine," Tobirama said, answering for her. "I was just about to tell her we found her a place to live in the village."
Sakura looked up at him in surprise.
"Well. Good," Madoka said. He looked her up and down. "I suppose when you're cleaned up you'll be kind enough to wait in your room until I can come and talk to you again?"
Sakura nodded.
"Sure. Thanks," she said, smiling a little at him.
"I'll come by in two hours to show you the house," Tobirama said.
Sakura left them and went to wash, thankful that it would be the last time. The bathrooms in the hospital were in a serious need of an upgrade. But part of her was afraid to leave. She wiped the damp towel over her arms and her teeth clenched, she felt uncertainty rise in her.
Leaving the hospital seemed like such a big thing to do. Seeing outside..seeing the village. It might be different to what it used to be. To what she knew. But the roads were the same. The families. The people. The feeling. It was still Konoha. Konoha…without Itachi. Sakura didn't feel tears, but she couldn't blink for a moment. She just stared, feeling a strange emptiness inside of her chest.
She spent five years walking by his side before she felt the love she guessed was always there. The hospital somehow felt like it was enclosing her. It was the one place she had been herself, truly and openly, a place of work, a place she was valued, where she belonged. A place that was not one Itachi frequented. The world outside seemed a little too big for Sakura.
With slow movements, she forced herself to finish cleaning and dress. She walked in somewhat of a daze through the halls of the hospital. She greeted some of the staff with small smiles, but her mind was elsewhere. It was better not to look in their eyes, the pity grew too much sometimes.
Hikari was in the room when she arrived.
"Hi, Sakura," the bubbly girl said with a smile.
It was rare when Hikari's eyes showed pity. Concern, yes. Pity, no. There was a fine line between them, and Hikari seemed to naturally walk between them.
Sakura was just glad she'd dropped the "Lady" before her name. When had that happened? Everyone she walked by mumbled something about 'Lady Sakura.'
"I'm leaving today," Sakura said weakly, standing in the doorway.
Hikari's smile dropped slightly.
"I know, I was just replacing the sheets on the bed."
She looked at Sakura with big eyes and Sakura inwardly winced at the sight of them, preparing herself for what was coming next. To her surprise, Hikari didn't burst out into some scene like Naruto might have. Instead, she blinked a few times, took a breath and smiled again, though it was forced.
"I'm glad I was able to meet you," she said, before walking out of the room.
Sakura stood and let her go, even though she saw that Hikari seemed to want to say something else. It wasn't a big village, after all, not yet, so she was sure to see Hikari again. When she was ready, to properly thank her. Sakura sat on the bed, hands folded on her lap, and looked at the tan wall in front of her, and waited.
Madoka left her with instructions to check in once a week until further notice and left her with a strange parting message that made her feel like she was missing something.
Tobirama arrived exactly when he said he would.
"What's wrong with you?" He asked the second he looked at her face. "You look like you're about to walk into a cave filled with spiders."
Sakura rolled her eyes.
"Nothing's wrong," she said.
He didn't believe her.
"Come on. Don't you want to see the village you saved?"
Sakura's bottom lip began to tremble and she bit it to hide it and turned her face away.
"Yeah," she said softly. "I'd like to see it." She turned back to him, feeling a little cheekiness that she hadn't felt in a while. "Just to make sure you haven't ruined it somehow."
"Very funny," he said dryly. He looked around himself with some distaste. "I don't like hospitals, are you ready?"
Sakura nodded. Inside, she was still feeling a little uncertain, a little bit more empty than a year ago, a little scared. But she kept that locked away and followed him outside the door, and back into Konoha.
It was weird, she decided after walking through town a little bit. It was so…small. And old. Before, she had only come into town a few times to stock the pantry. Her time wasn't spent leisurely, it was spent training, preparing, planning. All her days were spent with Itachi in their little house in the woods. The village wasn't much to look at then. Now, it was looking more like something she recognised. She stopped walking when she came to the main road, facing the Hokage's office. Tobirama looked at her curiously.
"When I went to war, there were five faces on that mountain," she said with a soft smile, her eyes briefly glancing at him. "I'm sure that… if everything was normal after that, I think the next face on the mountain would have been Itachi's." She saw Tobirama's eyes flash with something. "Him or Kakashi. My sensei would have refused it, even if they offered. I think he'd only take the Hokage hat if he recognised there was no one else."
Tobirama looked at the half-carved face of his brother.
"I wonder if they'll be the same people this time around," he mused.
Sakura continued walking.
"We'll see," she said, feeling troubled.
How strange it could be for someone other than Tobirama to be the Second Hokage. But now that Madara was still in the village, everything had changed.
Everything.
Sakura felt the weight it all suddenly hit her. She didn't know anything anymore. This wasn't the time she was supposed to be in. She stumbled slightly and felt a hand on her shoulder, steadying her. She looked up to thank Tobirama, but surprisingly, it wasn't him.
It was Madara. She hadn't seen since the time he came with Matsuri and Kagami.
"M-Madara," she stuttered.
He let her shoulder go and she righted herself. Madara turned a glare on Tobirama, who looked at him impassively.
"She doesn't need help anymore," he said with a shrug. "If she falls, it's because she's an idiot."
Sakura stared at him with disbelief.
"Tobi. As soon I get back to full strength, I'm going to break more than just your foot."
"I'd like to see you try," he said, turning away. "Madara can take you from here."
Sakura and Madara watched him go and then as if he was irritated, Tobirama disappeared using the body flicker. Sakura glanced at Madara, who was looking at the place Tobirama disappeared from.
"Leaving it all to me then," he muttered with some annoyance and Sakura frowned.
"Am I some kind of burden?" She asked, mildly irritated.
Madara gave a scoff so quiet she almost didn't catch it.
"Don't be ridiculous," he said, turning to face her for the first time. "Matsuri decorated your new house she's waiting to welcome you with Yuri and Kagami."
Sakura felt herself brighten slightly.
"A welcome party."
She looked at Madara for a moment and then they continued to walk down the main road of this new-old Konoha.
"Matsuri insisted it's good luck," Madara said after a moment of silence.
"There must have been a lot of parties when the new houses were built here," Sakura murmured.
"I think it's just an excuse for Matsuri to help you settle in," he said.
They walked on quietly. It was not exactly awkward, but Sakura didn't feel relaxed around him. This was the first time they'd been alone since she woke up, and since he… She shook her head. The last time she'd spoken to Madara, properly spoken to him, he'd kissed her. She'd remembered it a few days after she woke up. It left her a little hollow, considering the next twenty hours were the worst in her life. Thinking about it all now, Sakura didn't know what to say to him. So she said nothing and followed him as he led her silently through the village.
She took the chance to look around. The style of the buildings was pretty similar to what it was like before Pein attacked and destroyed everything. Sakura felt a pang of slightly painful nostalgia of walking through the village when she was a child; holding hands with her parents, attending the academy, life before everything went a little crazy. She sighed and Madara turned his profile to glance at her. She gave him a weak, awkward kind of smile and he looked away. It was weird.
Madara turned down a street just off the main road, and Sakura was grateful. She couldn't have handled it if she was having to deal with the busy main road. Too loud. Too many people. They stopped out the front of a row of houses. Madara opened the gate. It was small and quaint. A sense of homeliness about it. Almost like a cottage. There was a small fence and gate, a tree in the front yard with a swing that reminded her painfully of Naruto. The door was open, and she saw people inside.
She stepped back. She suddenly understood the barebones apartment that Kakashi lived in. The lack of anything that resembled a place of comfort and family and somewhere that could be where happy memories are made. It was just a place to store things and sleep. Everything else felt like a betrayal, to him, to them. To the ones she'd left behind. She started hyperventilating.
She took another step back before Madara noticed. Immediately he stepped in front of her and flickered her away. They were in the forest somewhere and Sakura immediately crouched with her head between her knees, forcing herself to breathe deeply. She felt his presence there, but he just waited.
"Sorry," she muttered when she felt her pulse and breath steady again.
"Can you walk?"
She nodded, coming back up to her feet.
"I didn't want to go home when I got out of the hospital," Madara spoke quietly, not looking at her. "It was too big and small at the same time. There were too many memories."
Sakura stared at him, what he was saying resonated with her.
"It took three months before I could go into his room."
Sakura felt her tears well up. She'd been so focused on Itachi, she'd ignored the loss of Izuna.
"I'm so sorry," she sobbed.
She didn't know what she was apologising for exactly. For being forced back in time, for involving Izuna in a battle he didn't need to be a part of, for Madara having his brothers eyes forced into his own sockets. For Izuna dying. All of it. She was just so sorry. Her eyes were closed, so she didn't see him step to her, but she felt him embrace her. She froze in his arms, but he didn't move away.
"You saved Izuna's life," he said quietly. "You weren't the one who killed him."
He stepped back and let her go. Sakura wiped her eyes and he wasn't looking at her.
"It's time to take a step forward. It's just a house. A place to sleep," he said.
Sakura looked at his back. His absence the last few weeks had been noticed but in the back of her mind. But it was there, in the way that all her Uchiha loved ones were. Fugaku, Mikoto, Shisui, Sasuke, Itachi…and then Matsuri, Yuri, Kagami. All of them were irreplaceable parts of her life and memories. Madara was there. The slight awkwardness between them didn't stop him from being important to her, and in his own way, he was the only one here now that understood her pain, he was trying to help her.
"Thank you," she breathed.
Sakura was woken up by a heavy pounding on her door.
She'd slept on the floor, unable to imagine getting into such a large bed alone. Which was a blessing in some way, that she didn't have to sleep in futons anymore, but she still took a pillow and all the blankets onto the floor and wondered if she'd be able to train some summons like Kakashi. Taking on Kakashi as a role model was probably a bad idea, but it was appealing to her a lot. She groaned as she rolled over. The door opened and she heard heavy footsteps in her house. Tobirama had no manners. He appeared in the doorway of her bedroom, took one look at her on the floor and told her to hurry up and get dressed, she had a summons from the Hokage.
Sakura groaned again and met Tobirama outside twenty minutes later.
"You owe me breakfast," she grumbled to him. She peered at the sky. "It's so early. What does Lord Hokage want?"
"He has a request. You should think of it as an order, though he won't say that."
Sakura looked at him.
"Fantastic," she said dryly.
He laughed, with a little too much amusement for Sakura to be let her guard down on whatever Hashirama was going to ask her to do. It was strange to see the office of the Hokage so different from what it was when she was alive. It was just a rounded two-story building. No Academy in sight. Not yet, at least.
Hashirama was yawning when she walked into his office. He quickly brought his outstretched arms back into his body and gave her a smile that was far too bright for the morning.
"Sakura!" He greeted her cheerily. "You look wonderful."
Sakura tried to give him a smile, but it felt more like a grimace.
"Good morning, Hashirama."
Madara stood beside him, in the place that Shizune often stood beside Tsunade. The main pillar of support. The Hokage's right hand. The significance wasn't lost on her. Not for the first time, she wondered exactly how the village had progressed while she was asleep. Madara caught her eyes and gave her a slight nod in greeting. Sakura looked back at Hashirama.
"How is your body feeling? Stronger?" Hashirama asked.
Sakura rubbed her arm.
"No thanks to your brother," she said, glancing at Tobirama, who was leaning against a table along the wall.
He gave her a slightly self-satisfied, smug smirk. Hashirama laughed heartily.
"As long as you're on the road to recovery."
Sakura looked back at him.
"Lord Hokage, I think you should just get to the point," she said. If he was surprised he didn't show it. "You didn't have Tobirama drag me here so early for small talk."
He looked at Madara, and they shared a moment of silent communication.
"Konohagakure is slowly becoming what we dreamed of. It's remarkable that you're here, despite it being under terrible circumstances because you've seen what this village could become."
Sakura swallowed. He looked very serious. She thought it was amazing, the ability for the Hokage's she'd known to change persona's so thoroughly.
"And that is as much through our own efforts, as it has been because of you and Itachi." Sakura was confused. "The scrolls you left for us in your house have put the development of the village into a far quicker pace than anyone would have been able to do without them."
The scrolls. Sakura stilled. She'd almost forgotten about them. Unconsciously, her eyes flickered to Madara, remembering she wrote one for him too. But she also left one for Itachi. She needed those scrolls.
"I want to see them," Sakura said. "The scrolls. I need to see them."
Hashirama's expression changed minutely.
"Personal scrolls will be released into your possession. Anything that relates to the village will be kept in the possession of the Hokage."
Sakura opened her mouth and then closed it, feeling the weight of Hashirama's presence in the room. She was a shinobi of the Leaf. Everything she'd been taught was to obey the commands of the Hokage. She felt herself stand a little taller and gave a short nod.
"With that being said," Hashirama moved on, "there are two things I want from you, Sakura. First, I want you to join Tobirama and Madara on my small council."
Sakura stared at him in shock.
"You want me..to be a council member?"
She remembered how irritating the council was to Tsunade…and there was Danzo.
"Yes," Hashirama said. "As Hokage there are a lot of decisions to make. Having trusted advisors is a necessity, and I trust you, Sakura."
As far as Sakura knew, the Third was the first Hokage who had a small council. Thoughts of immediate rejection and denial ran through her head, but then she realised something. If she was on the council of the First Hokage…if she somehow survived long enough, perhaps she could keep Danzo from ever being a part of it. Which would mean the Foundation and Root wouldn't exist. She could keep him away from power, she could protect Itachi's family.
She swallowed.
"Can I think about it?" She asked. There were a lot of things to consider.
Hashirama nodded.
"There is something else I want from you, Sakura," he said. "I understand that you were heavily involved with the hospital?"
"Yes," she answered.
"I would like you to take on a heavy role in the village as the…" he glanced at Tobirama. "What was it called again?"
"Head Medic-nin and Head of Konoha Medicine - it's a work in progress."
Sakura stared at them both without comprehension.
"You want me to be in charge of the village medicine and health?"
"Konoha can only be a strong village with strong support and foundations. Your skills and knowledge of how to run a hospital, to heal, to teach, to lead are invaluable. If the make-up of the military you and Itachi described in the scrolls is as strong as we believe it could be, paired with the best medical corp in the world, Konoha can lead the way into a new era."
"That's a… big job," Sakura said weakly.
Her mind was spinning with all the different areas that needed work and to be implemented to do what he was asking. She would need to go over every inch of the hospital, go through every detail of the command structure, evaluate all the skill levels of the current medics, check the stock and supplies, find out the exact level of technology. Not to mention she would need to figure out some way for them to put in more training at the currently non-existent academy to pinpoint the kids with potential early and provide better education for what medic-nin are and how important they are. And, she realised, she'd have to implement an entire system regarding medic-nin. Tsunade's overhaul of the system had been instrumental in the advancement of medic-nin in Konoha and the entire world.
Could she really take those achievements away from the future Tsunade?
"I…" she shook her head. "I don't know…"
She heard Tobirama sigh impatiently. She looked at the ground, biting her lip thoughtfully and anxiously. It was confusing and overwhelming. What was she supposed to say?
"It's not that I don't want to…" she trailed off. How could she say it?
"If you spend your time thinking about what was, instead of what is, you'll never move forward," Madara said. Sakura looked at him. "The life you had, the history you lived through - it's already different." His eyes became serious and held her. "I'm here now, and I'm not going anywhere."
Sakura felt like that sentence meant more than just him being in Konoha. She had to look away.
"It's not that easy," she breathed. "How can I…take away something that defined someone? How is that right?"
"You need to ask yourself this, then, Sakura. Are you willing to turn your back and ignore the needs of the people around you now, to refuse to provide treatment and be unwilling to share your knowledge and expertise, all in an effort to protect a future and people that don't currently, and may not, exist?"
Sakura flinched at the harsh tone in Hashirama's voice.
"Think it over and give me your answer tomorrow morning," he said.
With that, Sakura knew she was being dismissed. She left the office numbly and walked outside without much thought of where she was going. Hashirama Senju and the First Hokage were separate people. She could see that when he spoke, the seriousness in his eyes. He was protective of his village, he wanted the best for, for everyone in it. Whether Sakura wanted it or not, she was no longer in the service of the Fifth Hokage Tsunade Senju, her master.
She looked around. Konoha was smaller, a little quieter, but still busy. Still her village. She walked down the street from the Hokage's office and into the market. Vendors called out their wares, trying to sell them. She saw little carts for street foods. Smelt sweet things and bread, the light smells of the morning. The village was in the first throes after waking. She walked slowly and was slowly joined by others coming to do whatever daily tasks they needed.
Uchiha, Senju, Sarutobi, Shimura, Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi. She could pick out people from each of the clans, a wistful smile on her face. There were still so many that hadn't arrived yet. But villages weren't built overnight. She didn't know how long it was until the other clans joined.
Her stomach growled and Sakura ordered some sweet bread.
"Oh, pink hair," the baker woman said with some surprise. "Are you that girl everyone's been talking about?"
Sakura gave a little smile and shrug.
"I'm not sure," she said.
The woman smiled kindly at her.
"Well, from what I hear, you've been quite a help to many people. Saving the village and all," she said. Sakura took the bread from her. "I hope I can see you around again, Lady Sakura."
Sakura gave her a small smile and walked away. Lady Sakura, again. She really didn't want people calling her that. Saving the village, it seemed unreal to her. Seeing an open seat on a small bench, Sakura sat and watched the people walk by. Suddenly, someone sat beside her. She glanced at who it was and was surprised to see a timid looking Hikari.
"Good morning," Sakura greeted her.
"Good morning, Lady Sakura," Hikari said quietly.
"Is something wrong?" Sakura asked with a frown.
Hikari twisted her hands and fingers together.
"I, um. I wanted to ask you something."
"Sure," Sakura said.
Hikari looked at her, eyes widened in pleading.
"Can you teach me how to be a good shinobi?"
Sakura stared at her in surprise.
"What?"
Hikari didn't look away.
"I've heard all about you. How you beat Lord Tobirama, that you're really powerful. You protected the village from the Nine-Tails and you're the best medic-nin in the world!"
Sakura almost choked on her bread.
"My…my clan is a bit…they'd prefer the women to be in the house. I'm only allowed to work in the hospital because I went straight to Lord Hokage to ask."
Sakura felt some anger boil at the thought of the completely backward Shimura clan, remembering the way that the clan head had spoken to her.
"But I want to be strong, I want to do everything I can to protect this village! I love it here."
Sakura saw the determination in the girl's eyes. Hikari wasn't going to give up her dream.
"But what do you want from me?" Sakura asked her. "Do you want to be a medic-nin, or do you want to fight alongside the other shinobi?"
"I want to be like you!" Hikari exclaimed. "I want to be able to fight, and I want to be able to heal."
Sakura sighed.
"It's not that easy," she said. "And I'm not… I don't think I'd be a good teacher right now."
Hikari shook her head.
"That's not true and I don't care if it's hard."
Her fists clenched together on her thighs and Sakura recognised the stubbornness in her determination. She was about to refuse her when Hashirama's words echoed in her head. Are you willing to turn your back… That wasn't who Sakura was. She clenched her teeth. Naruto would be disappointed in her. Tsunade would scold her for thinking so selfishly. Itachi…she could see him, looking at her with that soft little smile, believing in her, quietly encouraging her.
"Okay," Sakura said after a moment.
Hikari looked at her like she was about to burst from happiness.
"But," she said sternly, and Hikari deflated slightly. "I am going to be extremely busy from now on. If you want to learn from me, you need to help me."
"Okay," Hikari agreed eagerly. "What are you going to be doing?"
Sakura looked up at the sky.
"Making the village a better place," she said softly.
Hikari was staring at her, her brows drawn together in some confusion.
"Didn't you know, Hikari? I'm the new Head of Medicine for Konoha. I'm your new boss."
Hikari let out a gasp of excitement.
"So you're going to work at the hospital?"
"Yes," she replied, feeling a sense of resolution inside. "I'm going to make it the best hospital in the world, and then, I'm going to change the way medic-nin are viewed."
"How?" Hikari asked. She was full of energy.
"You'll see," she said, with some mystery.
Hikari pouted slightly.
"Oh, I have to go," she said, looking into the crowd.
Sakura saw a woman, she expected it was Hikari's mother, waving at her.
"I look forward to working with you, Lady Sakura!" She bounded away.
Sakura watched her go and after a moment said, "Are you planning to keep stalking me?"
Madara took the seat next to her. The two of them noticed and ignored the glances and whispers from all the people that passed by them.
"I don't really know anything about Konoha from this time. I only knew the main parts of its history. A lot of the records were lost," Sakura said to him. "You were right."
"I usually am," Madara replied.
Sakura almost laughed, but it didn't rise more than a little flutter in her stomach. Her face remained serious.
"Hokage's orders or not, I can't just sit and do nothing."
"No, you can't." She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "You'll have the full support of the Uchiha Clan. I don't expect whatever you plan to do will be easy or met without resistance."
"Thank you," she said. She looked at the half-eaten bread in the hands. "Do you want some?"
He took a look at it and shook his head.
"No. I have work to get back to."
He left then, and Sakura turned back to her people watching.
Konoha was her home. It was filled with the people she loved, with memories she cherished. Before, and now, it was the same. There were people she'd grown to cherish here, in this place. Promises that she'd made to herself, and promises she'd made with Itachi. She had to honour them, even though it hurt. She didn't want to let them down, or herself. The Tsunade in her imagination was screeching at her for being a soft-hearted fool. Sakura smiled to herself softly. If Tsunade was born again, and if Sakura was lucky enough to be alive, of course, she'd have to take on her former master as a pupil. Just so that Tsunade could grow up and conquer the world again.
Sakura slowly made her way back home and began to plan.