Chapter 23: Celebrations
"Should we wait for Tobi to come back, do you think?" Sakura whispered anxiously to Hashirama, who shook his head.
"I speak for him," he said with an encouraging smile. "So don't be worried. This isn't a vote, it's just informing the clans. They can't deny the action, it's the law that we can't interfere with internal clan affairs." He paused. "Although, they can voice opposition."
Sakura gave him a little nod, feeling a bit deflated at the second half of his comments, and turned to look in the opposite direction. The clan leaders were sitting and talking amongst themselves. Inorou caught her eye and gave her a slight nod. At least in the last few months, he'd seemed to properly warm up to her, although he did still look at her with suspicion at times. Shikaru had warned her that Inorou was intuitive, and Sakura's lack of background and the sparse details about her had set off alarm bells in his head.
She looked at the empty seats beside her. Without Tobi there, she felt a little exposed. Sakura didn't need protection, but it was nice to know she had someone that would always have her back, and although she and Tobirama clashed at times, he was a steady figure in her life that she valued. She hoped he was okay and unharmed as he dealt with the last of the issues - at least for now - with the Kumo shinobi.
Madara and Shikaru, the ones who they had been waiting on, entered the room at last. Sakura smiled at them both. The man whom she was beginning to truly look at as a father, and the one who she loved with her whole heart. Madara took his seat across from her, giving her a look that for anyone else would have ended in a wink. But Madara was not the kind of man who often winked, if at all. Somehow the look implied everything he was thinking and it made her smile. Shikaru sat on the other empty seat beside her, putting a hand on her shoulder as he did.
"How are you?" Shikaru asked her.
"Good," she replied, looking over at him. "A little nervous," she admitted.
"Don't be," he said with a smile. "It's going to be fine."
Hashirama removed his Hokage hat, and placed it on the table, a sign the meeting was starting.
"Now that we're all here, shall we start?" He announced. "Shikaru?"
Shikaru nodded, gave her one last supportive look, and Sakura's fists clenched nervously on her thighs.
"Sorry for the short notice of the meeting," Shikaru apologised. "We wanted to spend the Rinne Festival in a joyful mood, but with the issues between us and Kumogakure, well, things got a little off-track."
"So what's the issue?" Sasuke Sarutobi asked.
"Is it okay to have this meeting without Tobirama?" Kou Inuzuka questioned.
"Tobirama is already aware of Shikaru's intent," Hashirama replied.
"This isn't a village issue," Shikaru said. "It's something personal for my clan, and is only being brought to the council to inform you."
"The suspense is killing us," Inorou said flatly.
There was a low chuckle around the table. Sakura looked at Shikaru who was also chuckling softly.
"It is also being brought to the council because it involved another high-ranking official in the village."
There was a definite shift in the interest in the room at that point. Shikaru continued.
"I wanted to inform the council that I, Shikaru Nara, leader of the Nara Clan, will hereby be adopting Lady Sakura as my daughter."
There was a brief silence where Sakura could only hear her heart pounding with nerves. What were they thinking? She glanced around but mostly saw confusion.
"You're adopting Sakura?" Sasuke asked with a frown, glancing at Sakura. "As in, Lady Sakura?"
Sakura gave a nod to Sasuke.
"You realise she's an adult?" Kou said, also frowning, and giving Sakura a look of stupefaction.
"I am right here, you know," Sakura said dryly.
She saw that Chosume and Inorou remained quiet, and guessed that they were already aware of Shikaru's plans.
"This is just surprising," Sasuke apologised. "But I suppose not for everyone."
He looked at the rest of the table, and realised everyone except him, Yori and Kou were sitting unsurprised.
"Apologies," Shikaru said. "I had already informed the Hokage, and there are no secrets between my brother clans."
"No doubt Lady Sakura found time to mention it to Madara," Kou said with a slight grin.
Sakura narrowed her eyes at the shaggy-haired man, who winked back at her.
"Indeed," Madara said in a deep voice. "She did."
There was a brief silence while the table absorbed and came to whatever conclusion they wanted at his words. Sakura gave him a slightly disbelieving stare before her eyes bored into the table in front of her and she fought to keep the blush from her cheeks.
"What is the purpose of this adoption?" Yori asked after a moment.
Sakura and Shikaru looked at each other. At the cheerful look on Shikaru's face, Sakura grinned.
"We're a family," Shikaru said, turning his attention back to the table. "That's the only purpose."
Chosume smiled warmly at Sakura, and Inorou managed a kind and gentle look in her direction.
"I didn't realise you were so close," Sasuke said with wonder, looking between them with renewed interest.
"As strange as this is, we can't really interfere," Kou said, crossing his arms over his chest. "Although there is always a question of if this is a Nara clan play for power."
Sakura glanced at Yori, who was looking back at her with suspicion. Clearly, he did think that was an option. Kou, Sakura could tell, wasn't speaking with ill intent or maliciousness. He actually seemed more bored than anything and was speaking just to speak.
"If any of you have questions, I am more than willing to answer them," Shikaru said sharply.
Sakura could see he didn't like the implications.
"As is Lady Sakura. Though you should all know that last night Sakura was accepted by the sacred deer, so there's no question of her bond to our family now."
He looked pointedly at Kou and Yori Shimura, the latter who after a long look he shared with Sakura, turned away from the two of them, uncharacteristically silent. Sakura wondered what she was going to have to stick her nose out of in the future for him.
"I was only pointing out the possibilities," Kou said with a shrug. "However, my nose leads me to believe you're telling the truth."
"How unsettling," Inorou muttered, scrunching his own nose in disgust and leaning away slightly.
Kou grinned sharply at him.
"Yamanaka's have their tricks, and so do Inuzuka."
"Don't lump us in with you," Inorou responded with a glower.
Kou bared his teeth in a feral grin.
"Excellent," Hashirama said clapping his hands together and interrupting their exchange. "I'm glad that everyone has taken the news with good hearts, and I hope you will be very happy with your new family, Sakura."
Sakura warmed at his words.
"I will be," she said with confidence.
"Excuse me, Lord Hokage," Sasuke said.
"Yes?"
"Since we're here, I want to say that the academy will be ready to open in the first month of the new year."
"Really?" Sakura asked eagerly.
Sasuke nodded.
"Yes. There are still a few things to straighten out in regards to the curriculum, but all the instructors have been signed off on, and the final touches are all that's needed in the building. Furniture and the like."
"A new year comes with new beginnings," Hashirama beamed.
"We'll call another meeting to discuss the curriculum in the next two weeks," Sasuke said with a smile equal to Hashirama's in brightness.
With that, the meeting Sakura had been nervous for was dissolved and she sat back in her chair, feeling like it was all a bit anticlimactic. At the same time, she was glad of it. Finally, something good that she hadn't needed to fight for.
Inorou, Chosume, and Shikaru stood around talking to each other, and Sakura saw that there was a childish kind of giddy look in Shikaru's eyes, and it made her feel happy all the way into her toes. He was just as excited about this as she was.
"Sakura, why are you just sitting there?" Hashirama asked her, reaching for his hat.
"No reason, really," she replied. "I was just thinking it's nice to have a family again."
"Do you miss them?" He asked more quietly.
"Always. Everyday," she said with a sadder smile, feeling a pang of longing for her mother's hugs and her fathers loud and obnoxious and terrible jokes.
"Tobi and I, are we your family too?" He asked.
Sakura looked at him with a soft smile.
"Reading about someone, and then meeting them unexpectedly was as surprising as it was a relief, it definitely saved us. But, then meeting you both again here," she shook her head. "I could never have even imagined this happening to me."
"Yet it did," Hashirama said. "Which is a relief for all of us."
He nodded to Madara, who was talking by the door with Sasuke Sarutobi. Sakura turned back to Hashirama.
"Being able to call you family is a privilege and honour I never thought I'd have. Of course, you're both family to me," she said. "I don't know where I'd be without you."
Hashirama's bottom lip trembled and Sakura leaned away ever so slightly, afraid of an outburst of tears. He placed a hand on his heart and sniffed, looking at her with a heartfelt, teary gaze.
"That makes me so happy," he wheezed. "Oh, Tobirama's going to be so disappointed he didn't hear that in person."
Sakura giggled lightly. She leaned forward again.
"Hashirama," she whispered. "Does he have a nickname for you?"
Hashirama looked at her with some surprise.
"Sometimes he calls me Hashi," he replied quietly. "Only sometimes though. I want him to call me that more often, but he's stubborn."
He looked at her curiously.
"Why?"
"He called me Saki!" Sakura whispered excitedly.
Hashirama's mouth dropped open slightly and then he smiled widely.
"Well, that makes it official then!" He cried. "He loves you a lot."
"Who loves her?" Madara asked, walking over to them, eyebrow raised.
"Tobi!" Hashirama said happily.
"Don't jump to conclusions," Sakura said to Madara, who looked startled, which was saying a lot for him.
Hashirama stood and laughed, clapping Madara on the back.
"No, no. Not like that," he said.
Madara gave him an irritated glare while Sakura looked at them with a smile. The door to the room opened and Shikaru stuck his head in.
"Sakura?" He called. "Shikata wants to see you."
"Coming!" She called back.
He nodded and closed the door again. She walked around the table to Hashirama and Madara. She grinned happily and hugged Hashirama for a second, and then turned, pulled down Madara's arm to reach his cheek and plant a kiss on it before she skipped out of the room.
Tobirama took the payment from C and motioned for the guards to bring forward the two prisoners.
"With this, our business is finished," he said gruffly.
"For now," C replied.
Tobirama looked at him questioningly. C motioned toward Sarui, who stepped forward, as C turned his attention to his bound comrades. Tobirama didn't miss the flashes of fear in the eye of the one who pushed the wheelchair of the other. Unless they had a medic as skilled as Sakura, Shouta had assured Tobirama that he would never walk again, and Tobirama didn't think the Raikage was going to bother to bring either of the two back into rotation.
"I have an idea for a collaboration between our countries," Sarui said.
Tobirama crossed his arms over his chest.
"What kind of collaboration?"
"Medical," he replied easily.
Tobirama felt a prick of annoyance. So he wanted Sakura for something, why wasn't that a surprise to him?
"Our medical corp is quite good, but after speaking with Lady Sakura, I can say that each of our countries would benefit by working together," he continued.
"Is that so?" Tobirama asked noncommittally.
"Don't you think it would be beneficial to not only medical progress in the world but also to the relationships between our countries?" Sarui asked smoothly.
Sakura's words rang in Tobirama's head: never trust Kumo.
"The decision isn't mine," Tobirama answered. "And in any case, I doubt Sakura will want to leave Konoha for long periods of time."
Sarui gave an almost sly smile.
"You don't know the appeal that comes from the exchange of knowledge between like-minded people."
Tobirama wanted to scoff. This child clearly knew nothing about him if he thought that. Tobirama was about to step into the position of Konoha's Head of Research and Development. Exchanging ideas was a passion of his.
"Whatever your opinion might be, or Sakura's supposed wants, the decision lies with the Hokage," Tobirama responded. "If we're done here, I'm needed back at the village."
C took his place beside Tobirama.
"The final scroll," he said, holding out his hand.
Tobirama took it out of his pocket and handed it over. C tucked it in his jacket.
"Until we meet again," C said with a short nod.
Tobirama hoped that would be never. Tobirama and his three guards watched as the Kumo crossed over the borders of their lands. He turned back to the guards.
"Keep a close watch over the borders for the next twenty-four hours," he ordered.
"Yes, Lord Tobirama."
They all gave a nod before dispersing along the border. Tobirama looked at the disappearing figures with some amount of relief. At least now he'd be home for the festival, and be able to relax a little before he had to get back to work.
"I feel like I'm making a big mistake," Sakura said as Shikata placed a blindfold over her eyes and tied it.
"Don't you trust me?" He asked.
"No," Sakura grinned, closing her eyes under the blindfold.
She felt him reach for her hand and she gripped his.
"Come on," he said with a sigh, but there was an edge of excitement in his voice. "This way."
"Don't let me fall over," Sakura warned.
"If you do, you're not much of a shinobi," Shikata retorted.
Sakura laughed. He led her from inside his home to outside. She vaguely imagined they walked through the outdoor courtyard where they usually played shogi, and then she wasn't sure where they were, except that it was definitely out of doors. A few minutes later, Shikata stopped rather abruptly, and Sakura bumped into him.
"Shika, give me a warning," Sakura complained.
She heard some unfamiliar laughter and realised there were a lot more people than just her and Shikata around them.
"Can I take the blindfold off?" She asked anxiously.
"Whatever you like," Shikata said, letting go of her hand.
Sakura raised her hands to the blindfold, and slowly lifted it over her head. She blinked a few times and was met with a lot of smiling Nara faces standing in front of their sacred forest.
"Welcome to the Nara clan," Shikaru said, walking through the crowd and toward her with something in his hands.
Sakura felt like her breath was taken away. She looked around with some amazement, at the entire clan, gathered for her, and she realised that this was their welcome to her. Shikaru stood in front of her, and Shikata beside her. She realised he was dressed in a formal kimono, of brown and green and other natural tones. In his hands was a female kimono of similar colours, and a necklace made of some bronze-like metal that was the Nara crest.
"This is for you," Shikaru said with a smile. "Our traditional robes for the eldest daughter of the clan."
Sakura looked at them and then back up at Shikaru.
"But I'm not blood, I'm just - "
Shikata shook his head.
"You're just family," he said. "Please stop having to make me keep reminding you."
There was a chuckle of laughter from those gathered at his words. Sakura felt overwhelmed with emotion and she quickly teared up. This was more than she was prepared for or ever imagined. She reached out and took the offerings and cheer and applause rose from the crowd of Nara's and Sakura laughed and gave a little sob, one hand rising to wipe away her tears.
"Thank you all so much," she sobbed gratefully.
She was immediately approached by her new clan, new family, and surrounded by their welcoming smiles and happy auras.
"We, the Nara clan, of Konohagakure, welcome you Sakura, into our family with open arms," Shikaru said. "And we christen you, Lady Sakura Nara."
"Sakura Nara!"
"Lady Sakura Nara!"
Cheers went up around her and Sakura found herself smiling brightly and widely through her tears.
"I'm so happy," she said.
Shikaru walked forwards, embraced her in his arms, and placed a light kiss on her forehead.
"Welcome, daughter."
He let her go and was then promptly taken away by his clansmen, who congratulated both him and the sheepish and reluctant looking Shikata, while Sakura was approached by two girls; one her age, one a bit younger than Shikata.
"Lady Sakura, my name is Sana, and this is my sister Satomi," Sana said with a smile. "We're Shikata's cousins. And yours now, too, I suppose."
"It's nice to meet you," Sakura replied. "Please don't call me Lady Sakura, just Sakura is fine since we're family, right?"
"Right," Sana said. Satomi nodded. "If you like, we can show you to your house and help you change into your kimono for the banquet," Sana said.
Sakura stared at her.
"House?" She blinked. "You mean Shikaru's house?"
Sana frowned.
"No, your house. Here," she answered.
At Sakura's confused stare, Sana looked shocked and then her mouth opened and she gasped a little.
"Oh, I'm so sorry - I thought - "
Shikaru put a hand on Sana's shoulder.
"It's not a worry, Sana. We just hadn't got around to telling her yet."
"Oh, Uncle, I'm sorry," Sana blushed.
"My house?" Sakura repeated, looking at Shikaru, clutching the kimono in her hand.
"Sana, Satomi, and Shikata," Shikaru said, gaining their attention. "Shall we show Sakura?"
"House?" Sakura said for the third time.
"That's the third time you've said the word," Shikata grumbled. "It's not going to change its meaning if you keep repeating it."
Sakura was too confused and trepidatious to say anything smart back to him. Instead, she followed him and his cousins, walking beside Shikaru, and looking at him, begging for an explanation.
"We were going to ask you before, but things just became a little too busy with Kumo, Shikaru explained. "At the last clan meeting, there was an overwhelming wish for you to move into the compound."
"Really?" Sakura breathed.
Shikaru nodded.
"You're well known in the clan, from coming by so often, and from the hospital and village in general. It wasn't difficult to ask for your acceptance in the clan. They've all been very excited."
Sakura blushed happily.
"Especially Sana and Satomi," Shikaru chuckled. "I think they've been quite jealous of Shikata." He glanced down at her. "You're very quiet."
"I don't know what to say," Sakura murmured.
She felt like she was about to cry again.
"We're here," he said.
Sakura looked up to see a house tucked in against by the forest edge.
"It's not much. Perhaps smaller than the home you live in now, but if you want it, it's for you. It's only a few minutes walk from my house," Shikaru said.
Sakura stopped and stared at the building. Compared to the little house that had been found for her when she'd left the hospital, the entire house seemed to radiate a feeling of homeliness. She looked down at the Nara symbol she held on top of the kimono on her hands, and then back up at Shikata, who was looking at her like he didn't know why she was taking so long.
"Want to have a look inside?" Shikaru prompted.
Sakura nodded. She did. Very much. Hugging the garments tightly to her chest, she walked forwards, reaching Shikata and his cousins, who were watching her with some fascination. Shikata turned and walked up the two stairs, and opened the front door, motioning for Sakura to walk inside. She walked into the house and her first thought was that it wasn't large, but it felt spacious and open. It had sparse furniture, a chair here, a small table there, a little bookshelf tucked against the wall, but Sakura could see a home. She slipped off her shoes, and walked into the home, looking all around her. She saw a doorway to the back of the main room, as well as a door at the back leading to the outdoors area. The kitchen was tucked away in the left corner in a little cut-out area and she couldn't quite see it all.
"I made sure there was a nice verandah so we could sit and play shogi," Shikata said quietly, coming up beside her.
Sakura looked at him and smiled.
"Want to show me?" She asked.
"Follow me," he said.
Shikata didn't lead her outside, but instead to the door on the right, which led to a little hallway and a part of the home she hadn't seen from the outside. The hall had a long glass window built into the wall, allowing a view into the forest. Sakura gasped with delight seeing it. Shikata opened a door.
"Bathroom," he said.
He walked down to the next door.
"Your bedroom. It's empty of anything, just a room."
Sakura peeked into the bedroom and saw a large window and a little field of green beyond it and smiled. She turned and looked out the window and saw the verandah and the little garden and then the forest.
"It's beautiful," she breathed.
"Will you live here then?" Shikata asked quietly, looking out as well.
She put her arm around his shoulders and realised that he'd grown again.
"Well, I guess it's only right since I'm a Nara now."
In a rare show of affection, Shikata gave her full and proper hug. She was frozen for a moment before she turned fully into it and hugged him back, feeling the force of what had happened. The little ceremony she'd been a part of the previous evening with the forest deer had been nerve-wracking, awe-inspiring and a complete relief when she'd been accepted. But this moment, feeling the bond between her and her new brother, it completely took over those awed feelings she'd been holding onto. Sakura had really become part of a family, and she felt pure happiness at the thought of it.
A few hours later, Sakura had been introduced to every single member of the Nara clan, she'd complained more times than he cared to count that her cheeks hurt from laughing and smiling and she had cried out her 'happiness' - as she called it - several times over. She wore the kimono that his father had presented to her, and the Nara clan symbol hung around her neck and she clutched it, not wanting to let it go. Shikata had watched her with fondness and tired exasperation. She was an energetic person when she wanted to be, and he hoped it wasn't a regular occurrence because he would be exhausted by her within half a day.
Despite his mild complaints, Shikata had a good time at the banquet. His father was correct in his assessment that the Nara were ready to accept Sakura as one of their own. There were only two people he was worried about, but he didn't think they'd be much of a problem. As far as Shikata understood, there were always people who liked to create unnecessary drama in each family. The majority of the clan understood the political benefits of Sakura joining the family, and whether or not they approved of her, those outweighed their personal opinions. But his father had made it clear that it was a true adoption of the heart, and the clan respected his wishes and remained quiet. Not that they could say much when the deer had accepted her. Sana and Satomi were particularly happy that Sakura was joining the family. The Nara were traditionally male-heavy, and the two girls didn't have any other females around their age, and Sana was shier than she appeared.
The hour passed nine and most of the clan headed home to their families since they weren't generally known to be a clan who partied as the Yamanaka did. Sakura, who had definitely drunk too much, smiled and laughed and hugged everyone as they left and Shikata watched her beside his father, who was also watching her tiredly. Shikaru laughed fondly.
"Are you certain you're happy with this?" He asked quietly.
Shikata looked at his father with some surprise. Surely he'd made that obvious.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"Just making sure," Shikaru said. "This is going to be good for all of us, I think."
Shikata nodded. He had noticed the change in his father, the softening in his features. Shikata knew that both of them had been changed by Sakura, and surely she didn't know that at all. But it had been three years since his mother had died, and Sakura definitely wasn't a replacement, but she was something neither of them knew they needed until she arrived. Shikata often questioned and thought about the way their lives, and other people's lives would have turned out if Sakura hadn't come back to the past. There was a knock on the door, and his father went to open it. Shikata's surprise at the arrival of unexpected guests didn't last long when he saw who they were. He muttered an 'of course' under his breath. Why wouldn't they interrupt a clan gathering? Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, Madara Uchiha were welcomed into the house, followed by Inorou, Reina, Inoyuki and Inora and Chosume and Chojime.
"Tobi!" Sakura cried out happily. "You're back!"
She pranced over to the white-haired Senju, and Shikata watched with pursed lips in annoyance. He remembered that the Hokage had told him that Tobirama considered Sakura like a sister as well, and now that she was a Nara, there was no way he'd let the Senju brothers monopolise her, he didn't care if they were basically the two most powerful people in the village. Tobirama appraised her new outfit and saw the necklace.
"Congratulation Lady Nara," he said with a little smile.
Shikata huffed in annoyance and looked away when he saw Hashirama smile knowingly at him.
Inoyuki, Inora, and Chojime walked over to him. Inoyuki was giving him a sly grin and Shikata sighed.
"What are you doing here?"
"We came to congratulate you on your new family member," Chojime said. "How do you feel being a little brother?"
Shikata rolled his eyes and didn't answer. He looked at Inora, Inoyuki's twin sister, who was staring back at Sakura, who was trying to get the Hokage drunk and the Hokage wasn't resisting.
"I feel like things are going to get a little loud around here," she said with a frown.
"Probably," Shikata said with a tired sigh.
He looked around at the group of his peers.
"Want to disappear into my room?" He asked.
Inoyuki nodded.
"Sure."
He leaned over to check if the sake bottle was full or not. It was, and he took it with a sly grin, and then took a second bottle.
"Let's go."
"I'm sure the adults would prefer to be left alone as well," Chojime said, looking back at the group.
"Aren't you going to greet them?" Sana asked Shikata as she walked up to him.
Shikata made a face.
"Why should I?"
"It's the Hokage," she said, slightly scandalised.
He shrugged indifferently.
"Come on."
He walked off and towards his room. At least this way Shikata didn't have to pretend to care that the Hokage was in his house. Avoidance was the best way to conserve his energy in situations like these, even if he was sure to get an earful from his father on the morrow.
Sakura didn't realise that it was the first time she'd done this before she arrived. Having a secret relationship was fun, with the sneaking around, the secret glances and smiles, the moments of intimacy stolen in public under everyone's nose. It was thrilling when she met Madara's eyes across the room and knew that sometime soon they would be ducking into a shadowed space and drinking each other in. But it also meant that there wasn't as much opportunity for her to visit his home openly, especially because she didn't know how his clan would react, and that she didn't have to worry about any of that. Sakura didn't have a clan, and her neighbours were quiet and not nosy - not that she'd noticed. So Sakura spent most of the time at Madara's house using the windows or scaling over the walls when the sun was setting.
Standing at the front entrance to the house was mildly frightening for her. Sakura had forgotten just how big Madara's house truly was. Sometimes she forgot that he was the head of a noble and prestigious clan, and as much as she liked to pretend she was sneaking in and out of his house unnoticed, it was highly unlikely since his house was guarded at all hours of the day, though she had to admit that it was likely he'd moved them from guarding the area that she used to sneak into his bedroom.
His house was the site of the banquet that his clan held for her and Itachi. There were walls surrounding the entire estate, but there was no gate, it was an open archway with the Uchiha symbol at its peak. Two Uchiha men stood at the sides of the gateway, eyeing Sakura with interest. Through the gateway, she could see the courtyard where the banquet party had been held, and she remembered the way it looked lit up by candlelight and filled with people. The difference between then and now was remarkable. A layer of snow covered the ground and settled on the four stairs that led up to the front door. Sakura held the package in her hands tightly, hesitating to walk in.
"Good afternoon, Lady Sakura," one of the guards said to her after a moment.
She glanced at him, realising she probably seemed very odd and suspicious, just standing and staring.
"Good afternoon," she replied with a nervous chuckle. "Sorry, I don't know your name."
He smiled kindly, and she saw that he was probably around the same as Shikaru, maybe older.
"It's Shinto," he responded. "That's Keizo."
"It's nice to meet you both," Sakura replied, inclining her head respectfully in greeting.
Keizo nodded to her, looking at her more scrutinisingly than Shinto was.
"This time of day, Lord Madara can usually be found in the eastern part of the back gardens," Shinto said.
"Ah, thank you," she blushed lightly. She cleared her throat. "Uh, which way is it to the back gardens?"
"Turn right before the stairs to the main house and walk around the side," Keizo replied.
"Thank you."
"Glad to be of help to you, Lady Sakura," Shinto said.
"We hope to see you again." Keizo smiled, but his eyes looked at her knowingly, and she looked down blushing furiously as she passed by them.
Sakura passed under the Uchiha crested gateway and made sure that she steadied her breath as she walked the directions that Keizo had supplied. She had to admire whomever it was that took care of the gardens because everything was perfectly manicured and seemed even more elegant under the light covering of snow. In the soft grey light of the overcast afternoon, Madara's back garden looked much different to what it did in the night, and for the first time, Sakura clearly saw the structure in the center-back of the garden. It was a beautifully carved rounded, wooden pavilion, surrounded by a garden and an ice-rimmed pond.
Inside the open structure, Sakura saw Madara, who was slowly shifting through different stances, shirtless and with his eyes bound. Quietly, she walked the path up to the pavilion, her feet crunching on the snow. There was no doubt he knew she was there. She watched him from the bottom of the three small steps, mesmerised by the grace and power of his movements. Within moments, he centered himself, planting both feet and facing away from Sakura, giving her a perfect view of his sculpted back. She swallowed. He untied the blindfold and shook out his hair a moment before reaching over for the coat sitting on a bench. Sakura walked up the stairs just as he was turning to her.
"I wasn't expecting you," he said.
Not harshly or disapprovingly, but with a little surprise, like it was a good surprise. He glanced at the package she held and then back at her.
"Sorry to interrupt," she apologised with a small shrug.
"You didn't," he replied. "I was finishing up."
She looked around.
"It's beautiful out here," she said quietly.
He looked at her.
"You've been to my home before," he said.
Sakura gave a small smile.
"Not in the daylight. It's different."
Madara looked around as well.
"I suppose," he said. He motioned to the seat along the pavilion wall. "Would you like a seat?"
She nodded and they sat by one another, both their bodies turned slightly towards the other, their knees touching lightly. She looked down at her hands and passed over the package to him, a little nervously. Madara gave a small smirk and took it.
"A gift?" He mused, slowly unwrapping it.
Sakura nodded and bit her lip nervously.
"I thought we could complete it at the Rinne Festival tomorrow, maybe. If you wanted," she rambled.
Madara tore away the last of the paper and revealed the frame. Photographs, Sakura learned, were relatively new in this era, within the last four or so years they'd been gaining popularity. When she'd spoken about photographs for the shinobi files, Tobirama had assured her he had been tracking down the makers of the cameras to bring them to Konoha in time for the Rinne Festival.
Madara's fingers traced the pattern of the frame along the top. It was a delicately carved double infinity knot, overlaid with the circle of the Haruno clan and on top of that, the Uchiha fan.
"Did Hashirama make this?" He asked, a little crease between his brows.
Sakura shook her head.
"No. As discreet as he can be, I didn't want to endure his knowing looks." She gave a nervous, almost smile. "A friend made it for me, do - do you like it? I thought we could take a picture together to put inside."
Sakura felt her cheeks heat and her heart beat fast. Suddenly, she was doubting her gift. It was so simple and small.
"What is this circle?" He asked her, pointing at the circle around the Uchiha fan.
"That's my clan symbol," she answered quietly. "Haruno."
Madara was quiet for a while longer, and Sakura couldn't see his face clearly, so she didn't know what he was thinking. She started rambling.
"It's not a great gift, I know, but I didn't want to get you weapons, because, well, you have a lot already and I think you'd prefer to choose thosee things yourself, just like most shinobi would, and - I wasn't sure exactly what to get you in general, so I don't know if you like it, but I thought it would be, I don't know, something that could connect us somehow. So the infinity knot is like time, since you know," she laughed nervously, "I'm a time-traveler, and it's the only thing that I have with my clan here, I guess I'm technically a Nara now, but well anyway - but you, I don't really know if you like this, but it's just something to connect us in a weird way and maybe show you that I really do love you and - "
"Sakura, stop talking."
Madara was staring at her with a mix of amusement and gentleness that made her heart skip. She slowly closed her mouth. Madara placed the frame on the seat between them.
"I am more than aware of the symbolism of the frame and the meaning behind it," he said to her. "You don't need to try and explain it. This is not a small or unimportant gift."
Sakura nodded. He looked away, staring ahead. Sakura looked at him with a little furrow of her brow.
"What is it?" She asked quietly.
Madara let out a small sigh.
"I have been thinking about the future you came from."
Sakura was surprised.
"And the role I played in your life."
She became a little wary at that. He turned to her.
"How can you love me when you know there's a part of me capable of hurting you?"
Sakura had never seen the pained look that graced his face before. His eyes were searching her face, needing and wanting an answer.
"Because I know your resolve," she said easily. "I won't lie, I hated and feared Madara Uchiha, and I was afraid and enraged by him."
She saw part of himself sink away in his eyes as she spoke.
"But that man isn't you. He was trapped in a cycle of hatred and darkness and pain that he couldn't break free of."
"You cannot say he wasn't me," Madara replied. "He is me."
Sakura frowned.
"Do you want to destroy the world?" She asked.
"No," he shook his head.
"Do you want to destroy Hashirama?"
"Of course not."
"Do you want to sever all your bonds and walk alone throughout the world, amassing power to replace the people you deny to love?"
Madara shook his head.
"I do not."
Sakura narrowed her eyes.
"Then what do you want?"
He looked at her, glanced down at the frame and then she saw a sudden flash of understanding on his face. He looked back at her with a smirk.
"Infinity," he said. "I want the infinity I was deprived of in your time."
Sakura was a little confused at exactly what he meant. Madara reached out a hand and held onto hers.
"Clearly, I was too weak and Hashirama wasn't strong enough to do whatever it was that your friends did - " he sounded bitter. He took a small breath. "I don't know any other life than the one I am living now, but it's very easy for me to imagine what you describe. There was something I lacked then, above everything else, because what has saved me from walking that path again isn't just a curse being broken. The only difference between the Madara Uchiha that you knew, and the one sitting beside you, is you."
Sakura felt her entire body heat up at his words. Her hand tightened on her lap around his and she trembled slightly, seeing the depth of his feeling and hearing it in his words. Her entire body trilled with joy.
"Thank you," he said quietly, leaning over an planting a kiss on her forehead.
"Madara," she said, her face transforming into a happy and loving smile when he pulled back from her.
"Happy birthday."
The entire village had been looking forward to the Rinne Festival. The villagers had decorated the entirety of Konoha with streamers and lanterns and the atmosphere was one of joy and excitement. Hikari was dressed in her best kimono. It was a deep green with a pale green obi, and she had a white camellia in her hair, which her mother had brushed back into a pretty knot held together with chopsticks that matched her kimono. She felt very pretty and excited to be going to the Festival, and secretly she hoped that Shouta noticed. Not that she liked him like that, but she liked being complimented by him. It made her feel happy. She was waiting for him at the park near the hospital, and she fiddled nervously with the brown paper bag in her hands. She had been fairly confident in the days earlier about how great her gift was, but now that it was coming closer to the moment where she had to give the gift, she was feeling like all her bluster was just bluster and she had nothing to back it up with.
"You must be really distracted if you didn't sense me coming."
Startled, Hikari looked up and saw Shouta standing in front of her with a small, teasing smirk. She definitely didn't feel her heart skip at the sight of him.
"You actually put in effort today," Hikari said, trying to joke, and attempting and failing to keep her face from turning into a tomato like it was prone to do.
He had put in effort. It looked like he'd combed and cut his hair. His long fringe was pinned back with a black clip. He was wearing what appeared to be a new outfit, that was very Uchiha. A high-necked kimono-like garment in dark purple, with a black obi, black pants, and black boots. At her comment, she saw the faintest blush on his face.
"It's a festival," he shrugged. "Is that my gift?"
Hikari nodded.
"Are you going to give it to me?" He asked expectantly and with some amusement.
Hikari looked down at it and then shoved it at him, totally ungracefully.
"Here," she said.
He took it and opened it, pulling out the black long-sleeved shirt and pants, and looking at with a questioning glance to her.
"It's specially made," she said quietly. "It's for when you're on missions. The material is designed to help keep your skin cool so you can retain elasticity and it's fire-resistant. Or that's what I asked for."
Shouta stared at it and then at her, his eyes wide. He cleared his throat.
"Thank you," he said gruffly, putting them back into the bag.
Hikari gave him a little smile.
"It's okay. It's what friends do."
Shouta reached into his pocket and pulled out a small brown paper bag.
"My gift seems small in comparison," he said, looking embarrassed.
Hikari opened it. It was small, but it was beautiful. It was a necklace on a gold chain, with a little butterfly pendant on the end.
"It's lovely. It's so delicate." She held it out to him. "Help me put it on?"
He took it and she turned around. He lifted it over her head and clipped it together. She turned and smiled brightly.
"How's it look?"
Shouta gave her a once over.
"You look nice today."
Hikari warmed.
"Let's go get something warm to eat," she said.
He nodded in agreement.
"I'm hungry."
He paused and looked down at the bag he held before he gave the gentlest look he'd ever directed at her.
"Hikari, thank you."
Hikari definitely didn't feel a skip in her heart. Nope. Definitely not
Sakura, Matsuri and Mito sat together in Asami's shop, taking a break from the festival to come and say hello to Asami, who was working diligently. They all looked at her with pity, and she rolled her eyes at them and continued working. Sakura, unlike Matsuri and Mito, was not dressed in festival clothes. During the festival, Sakura had made sure that there were at least four on-duty medics patrolling the village, for any emergencies, taking three-hour shifts each. Sakura was taking her lunch break from the hospital, so she was still dressed in her white coat.
"So when are you moving?" Matsuri asked Sakura.
"After the festival," she replied.
"How do you feel?" Mito asked. "Sakura Nara."
Sakura smiled.
"It's nice."
"They were all welcoming?" Matsuri asked.
Sakura nodded.
"It was so much fun. I drank a little too much sake, and challenged Hashirama to a contest."
Mito held back a laugh.
"He told me," she said. "He was impressed, but of course, I doubt there is another person who could challenge him and not end up passed out like you did. He said you were very entertaining."
Sakura groaned.
"I know," she put her face in her hands and shook her head. "Never again."
Matsuri grinned.
"At least you didn't end up kidnapped."
"Definitely an improvement on our last encounter with alcohol," Mito smiled.
They all laughed, and Sakura was glad that the incident had become something they could laugh about.
"So what did you do for Madara's birthday?" Matsuri asked her with a grin.
"I gave him a gift," Sakura replied, her cheeks warming as she remembered the afternoon.
"Is that all?" Matsuri asked with disappointment.
Sakura nodded and winked.
"I don't kiss and tell. I have to go back to the hospital," she stood. "I'll see you later."
"You can't leave now!" Matsuri cried. "That's so unfair."
"I hope you'll have fun at the festival and not work too much," Mito said.
"Bye!"
Sakura waved at them and then at Asami. She weaved her way through the crowd, smiling at those who smiled at her and enjoyed the atmosphere of the festival as she walked. She was almost reminded of being back at home in her time, except when she glanced up at the cliff face and saw only Hashirama's face carved on it. She met Hikari on her way back to the hospital.
"That's a pretty necklace," Sakura said, seeing Hikari playing with it.
Hikari blushed.
"It was a gift," she said.
"Oh!" Sakura grinned. "From a boy?"
Hikari went red.
"Yes. But it's not like that! We're friends."
Sakura laughed.
"Let's pretend I believe you," she said. Hikari looked at the ground. "Who was it from?"
"Shouta," Hikari mumbled.
"Shouta?" Sakura said with surprise. "Really?"
"Yes," Hikari sighed. "That's why I said we're just friends."
Sakura nodded. Something told her that maybe Shouta felt like they were just friends, but Hikari was certainly seeing Shouta in a different way. She was almost fifteen, and being constantly around him would probably be messing with her emotions. Sakura wondered if part of her responsibility as their teacher was to interfere or not. Kakashi never really did, only to teach her a lesson usually, or scold Sasuke. Sakura decided to stay out of it unless it became a problem.
"Okay, okay. I understand," Sakura said, pulling Hikari into a one-armed hug. "Did you walk around the festival together?"
"Last night," Hikari said.
"I hope you had a good time."
"We did. It was nice to relax a little," she replied. "Are you going tonight?"
"Of course," Sakura smiled. "There's going to be fireworks tonight."
"I have duty tonight," Hikari pouted.
Sakura made an apologetic face.
"Sorry," she said. "You could sneak up to the roof and watch them though. Don't tell anyone I said that though."
Hikari continued to pout.
"It wouldn't be that hard for you to change my shift with someone else," she muttered.
"No, but, unfortunately for you, everyone else was proactive and requested time off in advance, and since you're still and apprentice and you're not married, you're the bottom of the food chain."
"So unfair," Hikari said.
Sakura sighed.
"I know. I'm so mean."
"You really are horrible, Lady Sakura."
They shared a grin and walked together into the hospital, and Sakura probed Hikari's knowledge by peppering Hikari with question after question. Hikari passed her impromptu test, and Sakura made a note to move her precious student into the next phase of her training in the new year.