Chapter 12: Choice
Sakura sat outside the house in the woods and took a deep breath. She knew that Itachi's summonings had worked when they had first come, and she didn't understand the reasons why. But she hadn't tried to summon Katsuyu as yet and she needed to find out if she could. She thrust her palm to the ground and performed the jutsu.
A white and blue slug, that reached her waist, appeared before her.
"Lady Katsuyu," Sakura breathed. "It worked!"
"Mistress Sakura," Katsuyuu greeted her. "Yes, it seems it did work. But it is rather odd and disorienting being pulled through time."
Sakura smiled.
"I'm so happy, I just - I really don't understand how I can still summon you when I'm back in time."
"Ah, yes, well. It is because the Sage Realms flow more freely through time and space."
"Chakra connects everything, huh?" Sakura asked.
"Indeed, Mistress," Katsuyu said.
Sakura sunk to the ground, hugging her knees.
"I'm so relieved."
Katsuyu chuckled. "As I am quite relieved to see you well, Mistress."
Sakura spent time filling in Katsuyu in the many things that had happened to her since the end of the war. Katsuyu was comforting when she told her about Itachi's death.
"I was visited in the Shikkotsu Forest by one of the Toad Elders," Katsuyu told her after Sakura had finished her tale. "I was told that the Great Toad Sage had foreseen your arrival in the future to the past."
Sakura tilted her head sideways and scrunched up her nose.
"It's a very weird twist of time, this whole thing."
"Yes, it is. But Mistress, I must tell you, that once again I may be of service to you," Katsuyu said.
Sakura breathed out a sigh of relief and gladness.
"And I will do my best to serve you too," she said.
With the rising threat against them and a slow but consistent trickle of Land of Fire citizens seeking refuge in the village, Madara had spent the six weeks since his return with Sakura extremely busy. One of his main tasks was organising the internal village security, but as a jonin leader, councilor and clan leader, Madara also aided the Hokage in team assignments and diplomatic errands. He had just enough time in his day to sleep and oversee the Uchiha children's evening training, on occasion.
He'd been so exhausted by the time he was able to go home and rest, he'd had weeks of dreamless sleep, for which he was grateful. But the business of the weeks passed had affected Sakura as well, so much that he had heard from Matsuri that she'd practically been sleeping at the hospital. They didn't cross paths outside of work, and when they did, they were both too focused on their tasks to idle for long.
Madara put his pen down, and let out a long and tired breath. He was growing hungry, and thinking about Sakura was distracting him from focusing on his work. He remembered the day in the river with a tender smile and felt a strong urge to just see her face. In a moment of impulse, he'd left his office and headed to the hospital. He walked in through the front door and immediately felt the eyes of everyone turn to him. He was approached by a young female medic, which, by her colouring, he assumed was a Yamanaka.
"Good afternoon, Lord Madara," she greeted him with a pretty smile. "Is there something I can help you with?"
"Is Lady Sakura here?" He asked her.
"I'm not sure where she is now, but I can take you around the hospital if you'd like," she said.
Madara caught the look on her face. He wasn't unaware of her intentions, but he had no interest whatsoever.
"I know my way," he said dismissively.
She seemed surprised by his tone, and Madara, not wanting to deal with the hospital staff again, changed his mind about how he'd find her. He used the trick he'd used months ago, finding the tree with a view to her office, hidden from those on the ground. She'd looked tired and anxious at her desk, sifting through her files and reading with a furrow in her brow, making notes. Madara couldn't deny he occasionally enjoyed indulging in his childish impulses, just to see the almost giddy and amused grin that Sakura gave him. The tiredness washed away from her face when. She walked over and opened the window.
"This is becoming a habit," she said with a smile. "What are you doing up there?"
"Avoiding the hospital staff. Are you hungry?"
She nodded, looking relieved.
"Wait there," she said.
She turned and he saw her lock her office door, tidy her desk and then she put a foot on the window sill and walked down the side of the building. He jumped down from the tree and they met on the ground.
"I am also avoiding the hospital staff," she said to him.
Madara breathed a laugh. Sakura was still wearing her white coat, but instead of her qiapo, she wore regular forces issued trousers and a shirt. When he asked her why, as they strolled through quieter streets in the village, she replied a little cryptically and with a small smile.
"I was thinking about my sensei. I might get a mask too."
Sometimes when she talked about the past, she had a specific type of nostalgic smile, a mix of sadness and happy memory. He found himself almost feeling jealous of the memories, however irrational it was.
"Thanks for coming to get me," she said, bumping him with her side. "I was dying in there. Fresh air is just what I needed."
She spread her arms out and spun around, laughing a little. Madara chuckled.
"You're like a child."
Her eyes showed some surprise, and then she poked out her tongue and giggled at him. He felt his chest seize with the unexpected and adorable look on her face.
"I'm just taking a break from all the seriousness," she said. Her shoulders dropped. "It's exhausting."
That, he could understand.
"It is," he replied.
"What do you want to eat?" She asked. "I kind of feel like barbecue."
Madara agreed to follow her lead, and Sakura led him into the center of the village to a restaurant. The waiter was flustered when the two of them walked in. Madara remained silent, watching over Sakura as she interacted with the young man. She was kind and polite, more personable than he was. They were seated by the window of the restaurant, it was mildly busy and both he and Sakura were aware of the people watching them. He didn't know how she felt, but he wanted other people to think they were together. He felt a possessiveness over Sakura that he was certain that she'd be annoyed with, but in public with her, he wanted to let other men looking her way to think she was unavailable.
"It's been a while since we've seen each other out of work," Sakura observed to him.
"Indeed. It's been busy."
"How are you?" She asked. He was surprised that she sounded a little hesitant.
"I am well," he replied. "And you?"
The conversation seemed so strangely normal and regular that it was almost awkward. Madara wondered if they'd ever spoken to each other like it before.
"Tired, but also good," she said. "I haven't had any nightmares since then." She gave him a small, hopeful shrug and smile. "It's something at least."
He was glad of that. "You made up with Tobirama."
"Yes." She looked happy. "He's training with me again. Helping me to figure out how to be in the present."
Madara felt a pang of jealousy over her relationship with Tobirama. There was an easy atmosphere between the two of them, despite the tension there had been some weeks earlier. Madara knew that the Senju brothers carried a lot of affection for Sakura, going so far as to say that she was like a little sister to them. But he knew that that affection could shift, particularly in the case of Tobirama, who wasn't often associating with other women. Madara wasn't certain where he stood in Sakura's life. Somewhere between friend and lover, an in between that wasn't defined. Her slow change as she accepted Itachi's death and moved forward meant that there was less awkwardness between them, but there was still a feeling that neither of them knew exactly how to act with each other, and where the line was.
"Do you feel odd staying in the village while others are sent on missions?" She asked him.
He was surprised by the question.
"Yes," he answered. They began to cook their food. "I dislike not seeing things for myself."
"Since it's all new for you, it's hard to trust someone else's reports," she said.
He nodded. "It is."
She looked thoughtful. "There's something I want to do, but it'll mean having to go out of the village for a few weeks."
He looked at her curiously. "What for?"
"There are some plants I want to try to cultivate in Konoha," she said. "They'll be handy in the future for poisons and antidotes."
"Poison?" Madara questioned.
She gave him a sly smile.
"Didn't you know? I'm something like an expert," she grinned.
"You have a lot of hidden talents," Madara said, narrowing his eyes.
He wondered what else Sakura was capable of and what she hadn't revealed. He turned the sizzling meat.
"I was a dedicated student," she said. She frowned. "I should revise my file, I guess."
Madara thought for a moment.
"No, keep it simple for now," he said. "When the time comes, we all do what's necessary."
"I suppose. But isn't it better for the Hokage to know exactly what we're capable of?"
Madara sighed.
"Probably."
Sakura laughed a little.
"In any case, the plants are medicinal and only grow in certain areas. I've ordered the construction of several greenhouses, so when I can get the plants, they'll be able to grow here too," she said.
"Does Hashirama know you want to go?" He asked, a little suspiciously.
She gave him a look.
"I'm going to go through the proper channels," she said, picking some of the meat and plating it. "But at the moment, I don't think anyone one else knows where or what these plants are. So I have to go myself to do this."
Madara thought about what she was implying.
"You need to go into another nation."
She nodded. "There's several in Wind. But," she hesitated. "I would like to go to the Land of Hot Water, and even into Lightning."
"Hashirama won't allow that. Lightning is currently the main aggressors towards us," he said with a frown.
"And Wind?"
"Not ideal," he told her, taking his own meat to eat. "We're not on friendly terms."
Sakura pursed her lips.
"It's just plant-gathering," she said. "I can disguise myself as a civilian."
"I don't believe Hashirama wants you to leave the village for any reason," Madara said.
She let out a slightly exasperated sigh.
"Being someone in charge is annoying," she muttered.
Madara chuckled at her.
"I think it's better to make the decisions than have them made for you."
"True - " she looked to the side. "Oh, look who's coming."
Madara turned to see where she was looking and saw the infamous Ino-Shika-Cho trio. He glowered in their direction, looking away before any of them saw. In a manner very like them, they invited themselves to sit and eat with him and Sakura. Sakura greeted them with smiles and politeness, not seeming to mind their interruption at all. Madara graced them with vague looks and mutterings of greeting. The most irritating part of the trio was that his open disapproval of them didn't deter them in the slightest. They genuinely seemed to find his darkening mood encouraging. Madara ate in silence, listening to the conversation.
Shikaru and Sakura bantered back and forth in a familiar way, that had Inorou and Chosume laughing. They teased Sakura about Shikaru's son's crush on her, and Madara frowned when she lightly blushed about it. He tried to recall how old the boy was, but he couldn't remember. Chosume, who sat beside him, caught Madara's attention.
"Lady Sakura seems to be feeling much better," he said in a kind and quiet voice.
"It seems that way," Madara replied.
"She's become quietly influential among the clans," he said. "She has a certain charm about her. The village is lucky to have her."
Madara looked at Chosume, trying to figure out what the man wanted. He hadn't struck Madara as the kind of person who used underhand tactics or beat around an issue.
"Indeed," Madara replied quietly.
"I should tell you, I've been approached by some of the young men in my clan about her," he said.
Madara stiffened. That was what he wanted.
"What does that have to do with me?" Madara muttered, feeling unhappy.
Chosume gave him a little smile.
"Whatever you want it too," he said. "I'm merely informing you clan leader to clan leader."
Madara swallowed his irritation and gave Chosume a grudging thanks, wondering what the hell he was supposed to do with that information.
Hashirama, Madara, and Tobirama listened to the report Yuri gave with concerned frowns. He and his squad had infiltrated deep into Lightning with the aim to gather intel about the state of affairs and reasons for their aggressive actions towards the Land of Fire.
"They call it Kumogakure," Yuri said. "The Village Hidden in the Clouds, but there seem to be factions working against each other and instability."
"You saw the village?" Hashirama asked.
Yuri nodded. "We observed from a distance. From what we gathered, the Raikage is struggling to subdue the faction that wants war and dominance."
Hashirama was lost in thought for a moment. Madara and Tobirama shared a look. A civil war like that could cause a much larger war between nations.
"Also, we weren't able to confirm it, but it seems that the warmongering faction has taken possession of some powerful ninja tools," Yuri continued.
Hashirama frowned.
"Ninja tools?"
"We couldn't confirm what they were," Yuri said with a disappointed twist of his mouth. "But it's likely they were important and powerful since there was an undercurrent of panic."
"Thank you, Yuri. Please report to the hospital."
When Yuri left, Hashirama sat back on his chair.
"We should reach out to the Raikage," Tobirama suggested. "If we can form an alliance by getting rid of their problems, it could benefit both our villages."
Madara's jaw was clenched in thought.
"We'll send a message to them," Hashirama said.
"Something about this seems off to me," Madara muttered.
"What are you thinking?" Tobirama asked him.
"It's just a feeling," Madara replied.
Hashirama gave him a sidelong glance.
"I have the same feeling," he said. "I feel like something's happening."
Tobirama swallowed. If both of them were feeling like something was wrong, then it could be assured that something was wrong.
"I'll send out a team to the outpost," Tobirama said. "We'll see if fresh eyes will see something new."
Hashirama nodded. "Do it," he said. "In the meantime, let's make sure to secure the village and ensure out shinobi are prepared for anything."
Sakura quietly opened the door and entered the hospital room, holding Kagami's hand. She closed the room behind them and looked at the bed. Matsuri lay in bed, with Yuri perched beside her, and in her arms was the baby girl she'd given birth too. Sakura looked down and saw Kagami looking at the scene with wide-eyes. She smiled at him, and lifted him in her arms, walking over to the bed. Matsuri gave her a tired smile, and Sakura handed over Kagami to his father.
"This is your little sister," he said to his son.
"A sister?" Kagami asked.
Matsuri nodded and gave him a little kiss on the cheek. She shifted her arms slightly so Kagami could see the baby more clearly. Kagami screwed up his nose.
"Ugly," he said.
All the adults in the room laughed lightly.
"Do you have a name for her?" Sakura asked them.
Matsuri and Yuri looked at each other and smiled. Matsuri nodded.
"Sakiko," she said. "For you."
Sakura's eyes widened slightly. "That's not - "
"Without you, I wouldn't be here to give birth to this beautiful girl," Matsuri said, holding out her hand to Sakura. Sakura took it, feeling touched and reluctant all at once. "We want to honour you."
Sakura looked between Matsuri and Yuri, who gave her a smile and nod, and her eyes filled with tears.
"Would you like to hold her?" Matsuri asked.
"Okay," she said, wiping her tears.
She looked down at Sakiko, and smiled, taking the girl from Matsuri. She was sleeping, and so small. Sakura bit her trembling lower lip.
"Kuku pain?" Kagami asked.
Sakura looked at him and shook her head, smiling.
"No," she said. "I'm happy."
She looked back down at Sakiko, then back at Matsuri, Yuri and Kagami.
"I'm really happy."
In the quiet room, Sakura knew that the bond she had with them was deeper than friendship. They were family.
Six quiet days after the birth of Sakiko, Tobirama appeared in Sakura's office at the hospital. She exclaimed in fright, but at the look on his face, she was quiet.
"What happened?"
"The Land of Fire has been invaded by Lightning."
She froze.
"Hashirama needs you."
She nodded and stood.
"One moment."
She walked to the room beside her office, where Shouta and Hikari studied and worked. They looked up at her and Shouta frowned.
"What happened?" He asked.
"The Land of Fire has been invaded."
The pair froze.
"I'm going to see the Hokage. Stay calm," she said, seeing panic rise in their features. "I'll return when I can. Until then, prepare emergency packs."
Shouta nodded. Sakura gave them both a look, her heart racing and then she turned to see Tobirama standing beside her. He put a hand on her shoulder and they disappeared, reappearing in the council room. Hashirama, Madara, the clan leaders, and the four jonin leaders were assembled. Sakura and Tobirama were the only ones missing. The meeting was short, as time was of the essence. The squad that Tobirama had sent to the border outpost had found their comrades slaughtered and immediately sent word back to the village. It seemed they'd been dead a few days. Whoever had killed them hadn't made it a secret. The bodies were apparently left out for the scavengers. The Inuzuka with them had recognised the scent of two of the shinobi who'd done it.
"The message states that it's the Gold and Silver Brothers," Hashirama said.
Sakura stilled. That sounded familiar, she frowned, trying to think where she had heard of them before.
"Kinkaku and Ginkaku," Kou Inuzuka muttered. "They're insane."
Kinkaku. Kinkaku. Sakura stood, finally remembering where she'd heard the names.
"We have to go after them right now," she said, eyes wide.
Tobirama, as the Second Hokage was killed by the Kinkaku squad, and they'd been reanimated during the Fourth Shinobi War. They had something to do with the Nine-Tails.
"Sakura?" Tobirama was staring at her, and she realised she was looking at him in slight desperation.
She shook her head.
"The Nine-Tails," she said, turning to Hashirama. "They're after the Nine-Tails."
"How do you know that?" Inorou asked her with a frown.
"Which direction were they heading?" Madara asked Shikaru, who was reading the message.
Shikaru took another look and then his eyes flickered to Sakura.
"She's right, they're after the Nine-Tails."
Hashirama stood.
"Then we have no time to waste," he said. "Madara put together a pursuit unit and leave as soon as possible."
Madara quickly left the room, casting Sakura a glance before closing the door.
"Tobirama, you'll stay in the village in my stead. Madara and I are the only ones that can hold the Nine-Tails hostage. We need to put together a squad of shinobi who can put a stop to whatever those brothers and their followers are doing."
"I'm coming," Sakura said, staring at him determinedly.
After a brief moment, he nodded.
"We'll need your skills, I'm certain."
"Excuse me," Sakura said, leaving the room.
She ran back to her apartment and changed into her clothes for battle. She tied her hair back into a single braid that fell over her shoulder. She rewrapped her chest bindings, exchanged the nice skirt she was wearing for her tight undershorts and a dark pink qiapo that reached her mid-thigh. She wrapped her thigh with tape and her weapons back, pulled on black fingerless gloves, elbow and knee protectors and wrapped a black obi around her waist. She gave one last look at the image of Itachi before she sprinted to the hospital. She called an emergency meeting and announced what had happened. The conference room became deathly quiet. Sakura swallowed.
"I will be heading to the frontlines with the Hokage," she told them. "Madoka and Shouta will be my points of contact, and take care of the hospital in my absence. I need a squad of four medics to follow us and provide support when the battles are over." She looked around the room. "This is the first chance that we all have to show the value and results of the training we've put in over the last few months. I expect you to handle yourselves in a professional and efficient manner."
"Who will be on the squad to follow you?" Madoka asked her.
"The four-man team will be…" She blinked and thought furiously over the files, remembering who was the most adept at what and who would be suitable. "Aiko, Hirako, Tadashi and Saya." The four of them nodded. "You'll need time to store the necessary equipment, including stretchers, bandages, body storage scrolls - everything, even if you meet us on the way back, we don't know what the results of this battle are going to be."
"Understood, Lady Sakura," Aiko replied.
"Everyone else, stay calm and continue your work with your patients, but be prepared for anything."
"Yes, Lady Sakura," the room echoed. Everyone set out to do their work.
Hikari, Shouta, and Madoka followed Sakura into her office.
"Shouta, I need you to be the point of communication between Tobirama, the hospital and myself," Sakura said to him.
"I should be going with you," he said, stubbornly. "We're a team."
"He's right, Lady Sakura," Hikari said. "We're a team. We should together."
Sakura clenched her jaw. As much as she wanted to chew the pair of them out, she knew that they were acting in the exact same way that she and Naruto had.
"No," she said through gritted teeth. "This is not just a battle against powerful shinobi, this is going to be a confrontation against the Nine-Tailed Fox. You're not ready and you will stay here."
Shouta and Hikari looked hurt. She let out a breath and put her hands on their shoulders.
"I am sorry, but I trust you both to take care of things here."
Hikari gave her a nod, but Shouta looked away, his eyes looked angry.
"Dismissed," she said to them.
When they left the office, she looked at Madoka.
"Make sure they don't do anything stupid," she said.
"I'll try."
Sakura had one of the emergency packs that her students had packed and headed for the Hokage's office. Tobirama and Hashirama were talking inside. Hashirama was dressed in full battle gear, and Tobirama was scowling.
"Sakura, what do you know about them?" Tobirama asked her.
"Not enough," she admitted. "But if we can get rid of them now," she glanced at Tobirama, "it'll be better."
Tobirama narrowed his eyes.
"Listen," Sakura said. "I'm going to leave my summons here. She can be the source of communication between us through her clones."
"Summons?" Hashirama said with surprise.
Sakura nodded, and she summoned a small Katsuyu, who split into two, taking place on the Hokage's desk and the other on Sakura's shoulder. Sakura briefly introduced them all.
"I have to do one more thing," Sakura said.
Hashirama nodded.
"Be quick and meet us at the gate. The pursuit unit left fifteen minutes ago. We're leaving in twenty."
She tried to shove away the sliver of guilt she felt at what she was about to do, but couldn't. She knocked three times on the door, and it was opened by a stressed looking Mito Uzumaki.
"Sakura, what are you doing here?" Mito looked her up and down. "You're going too?"
Sakura nodded.
"I don't have a lot of time, but there's something I need to tell you and there's something we need to do."
Mito's eyes widened.
"Come in."
Mito closed the door behind Sakura.
"I'm going to tell you something that might shock you," Sakura warned. "I'm sorry about it, I don't want it to happen but I don't know what else to do to avoid something worse."
"Tell me what you need me to do," Mito replied.
Sakura took a breath.
"I need you to come with us, and stop whatever it is the enemy is trying to do with the Nine-Tailed Fox."
Mito's eyes widened in surprise.
"How? Why?"
"I don't know what they're going to do exactly, but I know that these are the people who kill Tobirama."
Mito flinched. "I understand."
"I wouldn't ask this if it wasn't for…" Sakura shook her head. "Mito, in my time, you did this to help your husband and the village. Now, I'm asking you to do this to help Tobirama too."
Mito looked down briefly.
"I don't know if I'm capable of that right now."
"You know what I'm asking?" Sakura asked with some shock.
Mito nodded. "It's long been theorised by my family that it was possible."
"You can do it," Sakura said. "You can seal the Nine-Tails."
Mito bit her lip and nodded.
"If you say I've done it once, then I can do it again," she said with some determination.
"I'm so sorry," Sakura apologised, feeling a huge amount of conflict.
She knew that the life of a jinchuuriki was hard. Mito shook her head.
"No. Don't be. We all do what we must to protect the village," she said. "This is my role. I will follow you, so Hashirama won't discover me."
Sakura gave her a hug and looked at her with teary eyes.
"I'll get ready," Mito replied. "Go now."
Sakura left, feeling like she'd either done something horribly wrong or made a choice that was about to change everything she knew.