hey my dudes.
update time! things are moving, are rolling along. this chapter is a bit of a laugh. a bit of a worry. a bit of introspection.
i've been thinking about this story and like how/when to end it. i don't knowwww!
Oh, and I have a question!
CAN YOU PLEASE THINK OF SOME COOL MONIKER FOR SAKURA? LIKE 'THE YELLOW FLASH' BUT FOR SAKURA? like... 'Cherry Blossom Demon' or something I dunno. hahah i'm not good at making stuff up like that. haha heeeelppppp meeeeeeee.
thanks!
don't forget to review! leave me a little message about what you'd like to see in the future - loads of stuff has the potential to happen! i'll see what i can do.
Chapter 11: Duty
Tobirama's head snapped up from his work as soon as the two chakra signatures came into his range. He immediately went to Hashirama's office, and they set off out of the village to meet Sakura and Madara.
Thankfully they had their chakra masked and their two long-missing friends were distracted enough not to notice their presence. Otherwise, Tobirama and Hashirama would have missed witnessing a scene that they never would've seen otherwise.
Madara and Sakura were splashing each other in the river.
"Madara looks so happy," Hashirama whispered excitedly.
"Are you his mother?" Tobirama asked, slightly disgusted.
"Sakura looks so happy too!" Hashirama cooed. "She looks like she used too."
Tobirama rolled his eyes. "We should go," he said. "They'll come back when they're finished flirting."
"I want to see this!" Hashirama protested.
"We're going to get caught," Tobirama muttered, but he wanted to see it too.
The brothers took position under a shrub to better hide themselves and watched the events in the river.
When Sakura and Madara stopped their splashing, and came very close together, so close Tobirama thought they were going to kiss, Hashirama gripped Tobirama's wrist in anticipation with the look of a lovesick twelve-year-old girl in his eyes.
"Oh my," Hashirama breathed in amazement when Madara kissed Sakura's hand.
Tobirama really wished he could hear what they were saying, but he was definitely not going to admit it. He didn't want to admit he was actually interested.
"Oh my!" Hashirama practically squealed.
Madara exited the river, but Sakura stayed. Tobirama smirked when he saw that Madara's face was red with embarrassment. He glanced at Sakura, who still hadn't moved.
Hashirama froze. "Oh no."
Tobirama frowned at him, and then looked back at Madara to see a furious aura radiating from him and his eyes red with his sharingan, staring directly at them. Even Tobirama felt a sliver of fear. Madara's retribution for their spying would be hell. He was amazingly petty when he wanted to be.
Thank god Sakura hadn't noticed, was the only thing running through his mind.
Tobirama and Hashirama quickly departed and ran back to the village.
"I told you we were going to get caught!"
Sakura was confused at Madara's stormy attitude when they reached they village, and he practically ordered her to go home and change first before meeting with Hashirama. She shrugged and did as he said, but she was a little curious about why.
At her little house, Sakura removed her damp clothes and had a quick shower, and changed into fresh clothes. On the coffee table in her living room, she looked at the drawing of Itachi that Matsuri had given to her. Almost five months since she'd woken up, and a year and a half since he'd died. Later today, she'd buy some flowers and visit his grave. She looked into her bedroom, and thought that maybe she'd go and buy some new bedding.
She left the house with a sigh and headed to the Hokage's office. The journey back had been quick, but they'd pushed the last few days because Sakura felt guilty about leaving the hospital, Matsuri, and her students.
It was a ten minute walk, and she stayed off the main roads, keeping to the back and side roads to avoid too many people seeing her. For some reason, whenever she went into town, everyone wanted to talk to her. It was nice, but also slightly exhausting.
Sakura walked into the Hokage Tower and was greeted with smile and surprised waves by the people milling about. But when she walked into the Hokage's office, she was not at all expecting to see Madara with his blade pointed at Hashirama's neck and Tobirama looking at the scene with exasperation but not concern.
"Um. Should I come back later?" Sakura asked.
After a moment of silence, Madara sheathed his blade.
"It was just a friendly chat," Madara said in a restrained voice. "Wasn't it?"
Hashirama gave Sakura a falsely cheerful smile. "Yes, of course. Super friendly."
Madara stepped back and Hashirama seemed to relax a little. Sakura wondered what had happened, but then again, this was Hashirama and Madara, it could be literally anything.
Sakura caught Tobirama looking at her, and she looked away, feeling uncomfortable standing beside him. There were still unresolved feelings of anger between them.
"Welcome home, Sakura," Hashirama said, clearing his throat and returning to his usual self.
The look he gave her was a mix between reproachful and relieved.
Sakura bowed her head slightly.
"Lord Hokage," she greeted him with deference.
"So, Sakura," Hashirama said, slipping into a more authoritative role. He gave her a long look. "You left the village, unauthorised, without a word."
Sakura nodded.
"You understand that this is a punishable offence?"
She nodded again.
Hashirama let out a sigh. "You're not making my life easier. You leaving meant that you weren't here to greet the Inuzuka to the village, and I've had people lying for you. I told you before that there's only so much leniency I can give you. So what would you have me do?"
Sakura took a breath. "I understand that my actions have consequences, and I'm prepared to accept whatever judgement you pass on me."
"First, you will tell me exactly what happened and why you left."
Sakura clenched her jaw and nodded.
"After the.. confrontation," she glanced at Tobirama, "I recalled something from when Itachi and I first came here."
"What exactly?" Hashirama demanded.
Sakura startled. He sounded serious, and wouldn't allow her to be vague with the details this time. This was a test for her, she realised. They knew she had held back a lot of information, but there were things that she didn't want to share, that she couldn't. She straightened her back. If he wanted the truth, then he would get it, in all its terrible glory.
"The Edo Tensei recalls the dead through a living sacrifice. His army of dead wiped out thousands of soldiers." She paused to see them all staring intently at her. "Itachi and I never explicitly mentioned it because we agreed its existence is a threat and that it is a truly despicable jutsu."
She looked at Tobirama who was staring at the ground. There were a lot of things she wanted to say to him, but she suspected by the look in Hashirama's eye that it wasn't the time or place for it. She swallowed her words and continued her story.
"After the confrontation between us, I recalled that Itachi and I had travelled to meet Tenji in a temple somewhere close to the Land of Lightning. That is where I went."
She looked at Madara. "Madara found me after five days. I left messages for Madoka and Madara that I'd return. Obviously, I knew that someone would come after me at some point."
"Why didn't you come to me?" Hashirama asked with a disapproving frown.
Sakura couldn't give a good answer. "Everything happened very quickly, and I just…I just wanted to go."
Hashirama's disapproving frown deepened.
Sakura continued. "I wasn't sure that the temple would still be there, since Tenji was dead. But we arrived, and everything was still there and ready, like Tenji knew I would come back. I went there because I thought that I might be able to speak with Asura and Indra Otsutsuki. They who were the ones that brought us both back to the past. I thought…" she shook her head. "I had to go there again. I needed to speak to them. I thought perhaps, maybe they could bring back Itachi." Her voice was quiet. "But they couldn't, and I already knew that, I guess. But in the chakra plane, I was able to say good-bye to Itachi. I needed to go, to get some distance and closure."
"A chakra plane?" Hashirama questioned, glancing at Madara.
"Yes. One thing I've learned is that chakra connects everything," Sakura replied. She saw the calculating look in his eye. "I fulfilled Tenji's last request, and now the temple and its secrets are all destroyed and gone."
He looked at her with surprise. She knew what he was about to ask, and cut him off before he could voice it.
"There are some things, Lord Hokage, that should not be known," Sakura said seriously. "If they are meant to be known, they will be."
Hashirama pursed his lips and leaned back in his chair, deliberating what she had said.
Sakura stood still, although she wanted to move or shift or itch or anything. She was nervous at what he would say.
"Since you've done something that you needed to do, now you'll do things that I need you to do," Hashirama said after a moment.
Sakura nodded. "Yes, Lord Hokage."
He gave her a little smile that had Sakura on edge.
"You'll be meeting with the clan heads to discuss village matters with Mito, who already offered to teach you more about what it means to be a high-ranking official in the village."
Sakura froze. Dinner. Manners. It was the worst thing she could think of.
"The hospital - "
"Can be managed by Madoka and your assistants." Hashirama cut her off.
Reluctantly, she nodded, knowing she really didn't have a choice.
"Mito will come to your house tomorrow morning," Hashirama told her. "She'll inform you of the events you'll be attending."
"Yes, Lord Hokage," Sakura murmured.
"Sakura, please remember that just because you are one of the highest ranking officials in the village, it does not mean you are above the law. Another incident like this, and you will be brought before the clan council."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
A moment later, she left the office, making a decision that from here on out, she would pull herself together and act in accordance to the village laws. She knew that if there was a precedence set now for disobedience, it would follow the village forever and Sakura had more important things to worry about than that.
Once she was outside the tower, she heard her name called.
"Sakura."
She turned to see Tobirama walking out to her and immediately felt defensive.
"What do you want?" She asked, folding her arms over her chest.
He paused, and stopped walking, he stood a little away from her. He went to say something, but didn't. He opened and closed his mouth, and rubbed the back of his head with a small grunt of frustration. Sakura watched him, her fingers curling around her arms, vaguely realising she was hugging herself. He struggled to speak.
She clenched her jaw. "When you figure it out, you can find me," she said coldly. "Until then, I have nothing to say to you."
She turned and walked away, leaving Tobirama there. She wondered if she was overreacting, but part of her could remember the cool and clinical look in his eye as he suggested bringing back Itachi with the reanimation, and hear the so confident tone of his voice as he tried to convince Hashirama of the value of the jutsu. For the first time, she questioned what she really knew about Tobirama, and felt a sliver of the same fear and disgust she'd felt whenever she'd come in contact with Oorochimaru, and Sakura swallowed the fear she felt that maybe her relationship with Tobirama would never be the same again.
Sakura's return to the hospital was more welcoming and cheerful than she'd expected. Many of the medics, trainees and hospital staff gave her wide smiles and told her they were glad she was home safely. Sakura wondered when she had gone from the demon who ran the hospital into a well-liked administrator. Not that she minded at all, maybe her absence had proven to be beneficial for everyones attitudes.
Her welcome from Hikari went almost as expected. The girl was overjoyed that she had returned, and happier still that she didn't have to do as much in the hospital anymore. Sakura apologised for her quick departure and promised that it wouldn't happen again, which seemed to sate Hikari, but Shouta wasn't as welcoming to her.
Sakura called him into her office to talk, and she knew why Shouta was upset with her. She'd been working on building trust between them, and leaving had certainly damaged it.
He grudgingly welcomed her back, taking a seat on the chair across her desk. Sakura noticed the changes in him, although subtle. He looked stronger. He moved with slightly more ease. His usual brooding scowl was softer.
"How have the last six weeks been?" She asked him.
He shrugged, not looking her in the eyes. "Fine."
"You were training with Tobirama?"
"Sure," he replied.
"And Hikari kept up with your treatment?"
"Yes."
"Good," she said. "I'm sorry I left so suddenly," she apologised.
"It's not like I care," he muttered.
Sakura could've smiled, but she didn't. Instead, she sat back in her chair. "Are you upset with me?" She asked.
He flashed her a look before looking away quickly. "Why should I be?"
"You're not the first person I've met who deflects questions," she said. "You have a long way to go until you're at the level of my old sensei. So why don't you just answer my question and we can finish the conversation quicker and less painfully?"
Shouta's face twisted slightly. "Why did you go?" He asked. "Hikari and I are supposed to be your students. You ask us to trust you, but you don't tell us anything."
"You understand that I am not just your teacher or the head of this hospital, but also a member of the Hokage's council? There are things that I simply cannot tell even my own students," she replied.
Shouta narrowed his eyes at her. "Not even the Hokage knew you were gone," he said. "We had to tell him."
Sakura let out a little sigh. "I appreciate that you and Hikari followed his instructions and covered for me," she said. "I left without his approval, and I'm being punished for it," she muttered, thinking about the upcoming official duties she'd have to do.
"So?" Shouta replied. "Why do I care you're being punished? You haven't answered my question this time."
Sakura gave a small smirk before she dropped it. "The truth is Shouta, I was impulsive and put my own needs above the village. I left to speak to some people who live a few weeks journey away to find some closure," she told him. "I just needed to speak to him again," she said quietly.
Shouta didn't reply to her immediately. He looked at his hands. "Just because you hurt, it doesn't mean you can run away," he said quietly after a moment. "You're the one that told me that."
Sakura cringed slightly at his words.
He looked like he wanted to say more, but he just gave a shrug. "For what it's worth, it was boring when you were gone and it's a hassle to do so much work," he said. "Don't leave like that again."
He stood and walked out.
When he closed the door, Sakura allowed herself a smile. He wasn't good at expressing himself, but at least she knew that Shouta had missed and worried about her, and that was a good place for her to rebuild the trust between them again.
Sakura spent every second day for the next month with Lady Mito, attending official functions and generally learning correct manner that she hadn't bothered with since kunoichi classes. Sakura wasn't really cut out for the missions that had called for perfect etiquette, and her specialty had excluded her from it.
But her status and the era was different. Her place on the council meant she was supposed to be a political figure, and that meant mind-numbing duties, and knowing exactly how to sit and speak. The only thing she was glad about was that Mito assured her that as a shinobi the rules were more lax. Still, Sakura managed to feel completely incompetent beside Mito. She was constantly reminding herself that Mito was, in fact, a princess. She'd been born and bred into this kind of lifestyle.
The weird palpitations she'd been getting whenever Mito came near her had faded away and Sakura was glad that they'd become closer, she felt like they were becoming real friends. Sakura was surprised to find that although they had different interests and personalities, they had easy conversation and connected well.
The last day of Sakura's punishment was the day that Mito finally brought up the topics of discussion that they'd both been avoiding.
"Have you spoken to Tobirama?" Mito asked her, glancing at her as they walked through the village together.
Sakura's lips twisted distastefully. "No," she replied shortly.
She'd barely seen him, and they hadn't spoken a word to each other since the day she returned. She just didn't really know what to say. She now regretted saying that she was disgusted by him, and she knew that it wasn't him who was responsible for the deaths in her timeline, but she was struggling to see passed it. Honestly, Sakura really missed him. He'd been a constant since she'd woken up, never failing to keep challenging her, to push her physically and mentally. She knew that a lot of relative stability in the early months were because of his support.
Mito seemed saddened to hear they were still on the outs. "I can see you're not happy," she said to Sakura. "And I know that he's also struggling. I've never seen him so down before."
Sakura looked away from her. She didn't want to feel guilty.
"Perhaps enough time has passed that you can both sit and discuss this," Mito suggested. "Someone needs to be the first to take the leap."
"I don't think I need to apologise first," Sakura muttered.
Mito linked their arms. "Perhaps not, but you're both stubborn." She smiled, and Sakura had to give her a little smile back. That was true. "Well, I have been thinking about something else," she said.
"What's that?"
"Our seals," Mito said.
Sakura immediately felt uncomfortable.
"From what I hear about your seal, I don't think they are the same," she said.
Sakura looked at her in surprise and Mito nodded.
"Perhaps they're of the same origin or foundation, but the uses are different," Mito said. "After all, I am not a medic-nin and I do not use it to heal."
Sakura's surprise was replaced with comprehension. It would make sense for their seals to be similar but not the same. Tsunade was Mito's descendant after all.
"What do you use it for then?" Sakura asked curiously.
"To help maintain and balance my chakra," Mito replied. "Nothing particularly spectacular."
Sakura remembered that Mito had special chakra, and it allowed her to be a perfect jinchuriki host for the Nine-Tails. She wondered how the seal played into that.
"Then we do have different seals," Sakura murmured. She did feel a bit relieved about it. "They just look the same."
"Yes, but I would still like to know where you learned it," Mito said.
Sakura chuckled nervously. "Didn't I tell you? I had a master who taught it to me, but I don't know much about where she was from."
Mito stopped her in the street. "Sakura, you do know that I'm the Hokage's wife, yes?"
"Yes?" Sakura replied, a sinking feeling in her stomach.
"There are a lot of things that Hashirama doesn't share with me, for security, and I understand that perfectly. However, there's no need for you to be so nervous or hold back around me anymore, Sakura Haruno," Mito smiled. "The only thing left for me to hear is the story of your life from your own lips."
Sakura felt very exposed standing in the middle of Konoha and having that revealed to her. Mito held tightly to her arm so she couldn't flee. Mito continued to look at her with a calm smile and Sakura managed to settle her thoughts down.
She gave another nervous laugh.
"Should we meet again soon?" Mito asked, an eager and hopeful look in her eyes. "I'm sure you need some time to sort through your feelings now."
Sakura nodded. "Thank you," she murmured.
"I'll call on you in a few days." Mito squeezed her arm and then she left, heading back to her home, presumably to her son.
Sakura stood in the street for a few moments, absorbing what Mito just told her and trying to figure out how to react to it. Was she upset that Hashirama had told his wife? No, she realised after a moment. She wasn't, it was just the momentary shock.
Feeling hungry, Sakura continued walking through the village, smiling at the villagers who smiled at her. It was a little strange that everyone knew who she was, that they all looked at her in a different way then she had been looked at before - like she was someone really important. In her time, she'd been known around the village, and respected, but it was a little different now.
Sakura slowed as she saw a familiar figure walking towards her.
"Hey, Shikaru!" She called out to him happily.
He looked up and grinned at her. "Hello, Sakura," he said, greeting her.
"I don't often see you out in the village," Sakura said. "How are you?"
Shikaru sighed. "I needed to escape," he said wryly. "My heads been buried in paperwork and meetings all day. Things seem to be escalating at the borders," he said.
Sakura bit her lip in apprehension. "I heard," she said. "I've been preparing the medicinal stores since I came back." She motioned to the teahouse. "I was going to have some tea and eat. Would you like to join me?"
He nodded gratefully. They were seated in a private booth together. Being given priority and the best seats in the restaurants she went to was something Sakura could appreciate about her new position, even if it did make her feel a bit awkward sometimes, when everyones eyes were on her.
"So has your month of torture ended?" Shikaru asked, smiling.
Sakura sighed tiredly. "Yes, finally," she said.
Shikaru chuckled. "I suppose there are worse punishments," he said.
Sakura gave a little shrug. "Yes and if I ever do something like that again, I'll definitely find out what they are."
"Be careful not to push your luck too far, Sakura. Even someone in your position with your circumstances needs lead by example," he said, giving her a stern look.
"I know," she sighed. Inwardly, she smiled. He was like a father. "Is Shikata happy with the lessons?"
"I think he'd be happier having you to himself," Shikaru said, Sakura laughed. "But yes," he continued. "He seems to be enjoying himself and talks about the other two more often now."
Sakura smiled softly. "They're good kids," she said.
"So are you," Shikaru replied.
"I'm not a kid anymore, as much as wish I was," Sakura muttered.
"Certainly it was an easier time, being ignorant and innocent of the world."
Their tea and sandwiches arrived.
"So what's happening on the borders?" Sakura asked.
"The other nations are threatened by the village," he said. "Seems like they're scrambling to either find a way to destroy it or build their own."
"But?"
Shikaru shrugged. "Destroying the village is a risk, since Hashirama and Madara are both here protecting it." He eyed her. "Not to mention, there's word floating around about a prodigy medic with pink-hair, and another about a shinobi who can crush mountains."
Sakura looked at him in surprise, her tea stopping halfway to her mouth. "What?"
"No doubt the rumours are circulated by the passing merchants, but you've garnered a reputation quickly," he said. His eyes were serious. "Good medics are few and far between. You need to be careful. I don't know if they'll connect that you're actually the medic and the destroyer, but be wary."
Sakura placed her tea, untouched, on the table again.
"I'm going to be a target for the other nations," she said. "It's going to endanger Konoha."
"Don't stress too much about it," Shikaru said. "You're not the only special kid in the village. The Sharingan is also prized. Not to mention the Hyuga will be heading our way soon enough; the more the borders are threatened, the more at risk they are."
Sakura nodded. "I wish I knew more about this time," she said quietly. "I really don't know how to help or what to even warn about."
Shikaru gave her a look. "You need to get out of that thought process," he said. "You're going to end up driving yourself mad, thinking that anything and everything that happens is your fault. It's not."
Sakura sipped her tea. "What should I do?" She asked him.
"Your job," he said simply, taking a bite of his sandwich. "Stock up in the hospital. Train the medics. Don't slack off on your own training, and keep your eyes open and ears to the ground."
Sakura nodded. "You're right," she replied thoughtfully. "I guess I can only do what I can do."
But she was still anxious. The only thing she knew was that the First Shinobi War began after all five of the villages were established with Kage, and that it had to do with the tailed beasts. Those things still seemed far away, but what if they weren't? She swallowed her tea quickly. The First Shinobi war was between all the nations, but that didn't mean that there weren't small wars between nations in the meantime.
"Whatever happened between you and Tobirama needs to be repaired, considering the situation," Shikaru said.
Sakura looked at him and frowned.
"Don't give me that look." He really sounded like a father. "It's only going to get worse, and you know that. We can't afford to have divided leadership."
Sakura sat back unhappily. "I know," she muttered.
He laughed. "Well. Why don't we talk about something more interesting then, hmm?"
Sakura gave him a dubious look. "You want to gossip."
"It's a good way to pass the time," Shikaru said, drinking his tea.
Sakura laughed lightly. "You're like a teenage girl."
"You are a teenage girl. Why don't you want to gossip?" Shikaru shot back.
Sakura shrugged. "I don't know anything well enough to gossip here," she replied. She didn't have Ino, or Hinata, or TenTen either.
Shikaru hummed. "Why don't we gossip about you and a certain Uchiha clan leader then?"
Sakura narrowed her eyes. "Or we could not," she said.
Shikaru grinned. "I think we should."
Sakura didn't reply.
"I think you look quite nice together," Shikaru said casually.
"Really?" Sakura asked apathetically, taking another bite of her sandwich.
Shikaru looked at her with a pout. "You're not very fun today, Sakura," he said.
She pursed her lips. "I don't want to gossip about my own relationships."
"So you do have a relationship?" Shikaru asked, a small smirk on his lips.
She really wanted to punch him. "Shikaru, really. Please stop. If Madara heard you talking about him like this, he'd be very upset."
Shikaru laughed. "Yes, but that's the fun of it."
Sakura rolled her eyes.
"It's always interesting to tease a man in love, and see how far you can push him to the point of snapping," Shikaru said.
"That's unkind," Sakura murmured, drinking some more tea.
"You don't deny that he's in love with you, then?" Shikaru asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I never said he was or wasn't," she replied, feeling a prick of annoyance. "But that is not something for you to poke fun of." Sakura pushed the empty sandwich tray at him. "I know you like to have fun and tease, Shikaru, but this is not the topic to do it with." She was angry. "If you do, it won't just be Madara that you'll have to be wary of snapping, it'll be me, and trust me, Shikaru, I can be a lot scarier."
Shikaru said nothing in reply and she left, irritated at him. Obviously there was no secrets in the village about her and Madara, but the fact was that there hadn't been any development between them whatsoever and she was tired of the rumours and speculation.
Not just for herself, but for him too. Because, Sakura knew that she had felt attraction to him, and she knew that she trusted him, but was that enough? Was that all? She knew was love felt like, she knew that he loved her, but that didn't mean that she felt the same way. She didn't know what she felt. And what if she met someone else and fell in love with them? She bit her lip. Life wasn't as simple as she wished it was, and no amount of teasing or hoping from other people was going to make it easier for her to understand her own feelings.
Hashirama sighed and pushed his hair back from his face.
He'd spent his entire life at war. The last few years had been a reprieve from that, a sliver of peace and happiness, a glimpse into what life could be. But now there were troubling things on the horizon. Anyone with experience in warfare could see the signs. The political rumblings, the increased activity at the borders, the increase in rumours, the disrupted trade routes, the requests for support from outlying villages. Things were stirring and it didn't look good.
He looked down at the table. Tobirama, Sasuke Sarutobi and Kou Inuzuka were with him, attempting to divide the village forces into the necessary divisions in case of invasion and necessary deployment. Teams were being created based on their skills and abilities.
"We need Sakura," Tobirama muttered. "She needs to advise us no the medics and," he glanced at Sasuke and Kou, before giving Hashirama a meaningful look, "could provide more insight."
Hashirama nodded. "Find out where she is."
He felt his brothers chakra release as he used his sensory ability to locate her.
"She's coming here," he said with a frown.
"Handy skill," Sasuke said.
Tobirama shrugged. "It's useful."
Hashirama glanced at Madara. "Do you know when Yuri is back?"
"Contact should come tomorrow," Madara replied. "His team was in Lightning."
Hashirama nodded. Yuri Uchiha was one of the most reliable and powerful leaders in the shinobi forces. The sooner he returned with the intel, the better.
"Tobi, go greet Sakura," Hashirama said to him.
Tobirama gave him a withering look. "I'm busy," he said shortly.
"That wasn't a request."
Tobirama clenched his jaw and then he briskly left.
"Still not talking, eh?" Sasuke asked, glancing at the door. "Must've been some disagreement."
Madara pursed his lips and went back to organising the files.
Hashirama nodded. "It was unpleasant," he murmured.
Tobirama and Sakura came back moments later, an awkward air between them.
"Lord Hokage," Sakura greeted him.
"Sakura, we need your help with the medics."
"How so?" She asked, coming over to the table and looking over the files. She frowned. "You're arranging teams and divisions." She looked at him carefully. "You're expecting conflict." It wasn't a question.
"Unfortunately," he said.
Sakura swallowed and nodded, turning her attention back to the files. "I just had tea with Shikaru. He told me about it." She moved some of the files, taking some out and deliberating over others. "Most of the medics are not field ready. They've only ever worked in the hospital."
"What do they need to be ready?" Madara asked.
"Experience, mostly," Sakura replied. She frowned deeper. "Where's my file?"
"What do you mean?" Sasuke asked.
She looked at him, and then at Hashirama. "Where's my file? Madoka can handle the hospital. I can be in the field."
There was a silence in the room, and Sakura eyed them all carefully. "Where is my file?" She asked again.
"You're needed in the village," Tobirama said eventually.
"No," Sakura said, slowly, her voice hardening. "Why are you trying to keep me here? You need me on missions."
"Until the time that we can't do without you in the field, you'll remain in the village, Sakura," Hashirama said firmly. "We need you here to coordinate the hospital, to train the medic-nin and be the advisor for this work. No one else can replace you here."
Sakura stared at him, disbelieving and with hard eyes, but then after a moment she seemed to grasp what he was saying, however reluctantly and nodded. "Fine," she muttered. "I need you to give me a list of all the shinobi already enlisted who have even the faintest medical training. I'll need to send out several medic teams to restock our supplies, as well." She looked up at Hashirama. "Is there a threat from Wind?" She asked.
"No," he replied. "Lightning, mostly. With some disturbances from Grass and Stone."
She seemed to be thinking deeply. She looked at Tobirama. "Do you know where we can find quality laboratory equipment?"
Hashirama could've smiled at her. Sakura was so unaware of the presence she had. She'd walked into the room and completely taken it over. Her own disputes with Tobirama had been put to the side, and she spoke with care, thought and professionalism. He saw that Madara was watching her with a hint of fondness in his eyes, on his otherwise impassive face. Kou Inuzuka seemed taken aback by her unwavering confidence, but he, like Sasuke just watched her with some amazement.
Whatever doubts she still held about where she belonged, and the feelings of loss that lingered in her, she didn't seem to know that she'd already made a place for herself in the new Konoha.
The threat of a true war was still minimal, but she acted and prepared like it was imminent. It was a good quality, to be prepared, and Hashirama appreciated it. He drew the attention of Kou and Sasuke, and they continued to deliberate on the structure of the teams specific to the missions they'd be undertaking.
They were in the room together for another hour before they wrapped up. Sakura continued to stare at the pile of medic files with some anxiety, even after the others had left.
"What are you thinking?" Hashirama asked her.
"They're not ready," she said anxiously.
"You can't judge that until they're in the field."
"They need joint exercises with the teammates before they can be sent out," Sakura said, fiddling with her hair. Her eyebrows were furrowed. "There's so much to think about."
Hashirama let out a loud laugh and put a hand on her head. "Sakura, stop worrying so much!" He said cheerily. "You've done well, and you'll continue to do well. I have complete faith in you. Lean on the people around you."
She looked at him and then she smiled. "Sure. I will," she said. "Uh, can you do me a favour?"
"Anything!"
"Can you tell Tobirama to come to my house tonight?" She said, a little nervously. "I think we should talk."
Hashirama gave her a grin. "Of course! I don't want any of my siblings fighting with each other."
Sakura punched him lightly in the side. "Siblings, huh?" She asked, smiling a little.
"I never had a sister, but if I could pick one, I'd pick you," Hashirama said, pinching her cheek teasingly.
She smacked his hand away. "Don't do that! I'm short, not a kid!"
He laughed again, and didn't notice the punch that came for him.
Sakura wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand as she washed the pots and pans she'd used to make dinner.
There was a knock at the door, and she knew that Tobirama had arrived. She wiped her hands on the towel and called out for him to come in.
She heard the door open and close as she rummaged through the draws for chopsticks laid out the food on the dining table to see Tobirama standing in her living room, staring at the small shrine she'd crafted for Itachi.
She gently placed the bowls on the table and walked over to him.
They both stood silently, staring at the shrine.
"I'm so sorry, Sakura," he said to her after a moment. His voice was low and apologetic. She knew he was being sincere. "I was insensitive."
"Yes," she said. "You were." She put a hand on his arm. "I hope you're hungry, the food is getting cold."
He followed her and they sat across from one another at the table.
It was still awkward between them. They ate in silence. Earlier, she'd been able to mask her unease with professionalism, now they were in her home and she was anxious.
She cleared the plates and came back to the table with some sake.
She looked at him and he cleared his throat. "When I was a boy, I realised that my brother is the kind of person who will be remembered for his words and his actions. Naturally, he led and pioneered and forged a path that would leave a lasting legacy. I'm not the kind of man who'll be remembered for words, but for what I can make with my own mind and hands," Tobirama said. Sakura tilted her head, listening to the unusual speech from him. "It's ego, maybe, but I've always been drawn to things that push the limits of what is known. I can become narrow minded and I didn't consider all the possibilities and consequences. You were harsh, but I've thought about what you said and your reasons why you and Itachi did what you did, and I think you were right."
Sakura understood what he was saying and she was glad that he had come to the conclusion that the jutsu was wrong.
"In my time, there was a man, who was hailed as one of the most powerful shinobi to come from Konoha, and he was a scientist. He was clinical, and performed experiments on people and manipulated horrifying jutsu to his own ends. We found out that he was doing a lot of things while associating with someone high in Konoha's hierarchy." She looked away, clenching her jaw tightly at the memory of Oorochimaru and everything he did. "It was all done behind the Hokage's back, but it doesn't matter. The fact is, this man took the incomplete reanimation jutsu you left behind, and used it to bring both you and Hashirama back from the dead to fight and kill the Third. You didn't, but he still died during that attack on the Leaf."
Tobirama listened stoically, but she saw his fist clench on the table.
"That jutsu caused a lot of pain. In the Fourth Shinobi War, that mans apprentice used it. He brought back loved ones from all the villages all over the world, and he used them to fight against the people who still cared about them. It was an evil act," Sakura said. "My friends, they had to fight and kill their sensei, not even two years after they buried him," she whispered. She looked at him tearfully. "There were complicated circumstances, but you, Hashirama, the Third and Fourth Hokage's were also reanimated and you fought against Madara and Obito and we probably would've suffered far more casualties without you coming."
"But without the jutsu existing, many things could be avoided," Tobirama said quietly.
Sakura nodded. Her bottom lip trembling.
"Maybe I'm wrong, wanting to change what happens like this. I don't know what my actions are going to affect, but I just… I can't… if I have the chance to stop something terrible for happening or exisiting, I should do something, right?"
She was talking more to herself than to him at that moment.
"Yes," he said.
She looked up at Tobirama, who was looking at her with fire in his eyes.
"The future doesn't rest on your shoulders, Sakura. Many things are different now, the world you knew has changed, but that doesn't mean that everything will be different. I've considered this a lot. Some things are bound to happen in the same way, or in a different way, they'll still happen. You can't control outside factors," he said fervently. "But you have seen what things like this jutsu can do, and it is okay to want to change that."
She swallowed and nodded, feeling a little less conflicted. "Thank you, and I'm sorry too."
"For what?" He asked.
"For saying I was disgusted in you," she whispered. "It was harsh."
He gave a one shouldered shrug. "Justified at the time."
She gave a little smile. "Friends again, then?"
His face cracked into a smirk. "I knew you missed me."
Her smile turned into an annoyed pout. "Until you say you missed me, we're not friends."
"That's so stupid," Tobirama rolled his eyes.
She shrugged. "It's the rules."
"Of what?"
"Friendship."
He gave her an incredulous look and she just stared at him, wondering how long it would be until he broke.
Ten. Twenty. Thirty seconds.
"I missed you," he said grumpily.
She beamed.