Chapter 24: Slowly
Madara had a sense that Sakura was trying to somehow expose their relationship to the village in a gentle manner. The festival was a good time to do it, he supposed, since this festival, in particular, was known to be the catalyst for many romances to begin. The exchange of presents was a tradition he had often enjoyed in the past, though the only female he'd ever brought a gift for before was Matsuri.
Of course, Matsuri used the holiday as an opportunity to tease him and only ever gave him an apple-themed present. This year she'd presented him with a drawing from Kagami that was a big red apple. To sink so low as to have her child be an unwitting accomplice was so like her. Madara's mouth twisted in an annoyed but amused manner thinking of the drawing he'd carefully placed on his dresser, and the box of her gifts he had tucked away in a safe place. Next year, Matsuri would suffer present-less while her children were showered with gifts.
To honour his brother, Madara had spent the last month working on a carving that Izuna had begun and abandoned some time before his death. Carving wasn't a hobby of Izuna's like it was Madara, and there was several half-finished wooden blocks tucked away into the bottom cupboard of his shrine. He'd completed the carving of a hawk with wings outstretched and ready to launch into flight, and delivered it to the surprised Asami Senju and her mother, and spent the morning in their shop. He felt an uncomfortable sort of peace of mind the more time he spent around them and understood how Izuna would have benefitted from the influence of the Asami's friendly, effeminate but strong nature, and the obvious love and affection in their small family unit. The hard nature of their own father meant that his soft care toward them was so rare that Madara couldn't clearly recall more than two moments of it.
Asami had been grateful, with wet eyes, and promised to cherish it. She had a gift in return, which Madara wasn't expecting at all. It was a gift from the entire family, a small maple tree, for peace, calm, serenity and prosperity. He accepted the gift with grace, and told them when the planting was finished, he would invite them all over to his home. In the late afternoon, he'd returned back to his home after finishing up some of the paperwork he'd been neglecting, and dressed in a semi-formal, winter kimono that was black, white and red, with the Uchiha fan his back. If it were not for the festival and promise of a photograph, Madara would not have dressed so formally. But his date would be dressed similarly, and after seeing her in lighter kimono, he was looking forward to seeing her in something different.
Madara waited for Sakura out the front doors of the hospital as the sun disappeared over the distant mountains. He folded his arms to keep his hands warm inside the sleeves, feeling the temperature drop a little. He was certain it would snow later on. He smiled slightly when he noticed that the hospital also had some lanterns and streamers inside the building and decorating the outside. It made the place seem less sterile and awful to spend the festival inside. Several of the loiterers in the lobby were staring at him and talking between themselves. If the entire hospital wasn't already gossiping about his and Sakura's ambiguous relationship, he would be extremely surprised.
He caught sight of pink hair through the glass windows. Sakura was dressed in a midnight-blue kimono with a floral design and a red obi. It made her hair and eyes seem brighter. She was smiling and waving to the staff members she walked by, who seemed to be complimenting her. Madara met her with a smile as she exited the building, and held out an arm for her, testing if his theory of slow revelation was correct. With a little hesitation, Sakura linked her arm in his, and Madara then truly smiled at her, happy than he thought he'd be at the gesture. Her cheeks were a little pink.
"How are you?" He asked.
"Good," she replied. "Happy to be finished with work."
He glanced down at her.
"Happy to be going to the festival?"
"Of course," she said. "I always loved this festival."
"Are you happy to be seen together like this?" Madara asked after a moment.
Sakura faltered slightly in her step.
"Oh, maybe we should - " she attempted to remove her arm from his, and he grabbed her hand with his, stopping it. "Madara?"
He gave her a challenging smirk.
"Scared?"
Her eyes widened minutely and then she gave a grin.
"Never," she answered. "Are you?"
"I'm more than happy for the village to see that you are not available for the wandering eyes of inferior men."
He saw her roll her eyes slightly.
"And… your clan?" Sakura asked more quietly.
He glanced at her.
"When the time comes, we can deal with them."
"I feel like this - " she looked at their linked arms, "is going to mean that happens sooner rather than later."
"Does that worry you?" He asked seeing a little worried at the crease between her brows.
She was quiet for a moment and Madara felt a slight tension build in his chest.
"I don't know," she said with a shrug. "Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I don't like dealing with clan things, I'm not used to it."
"I don't like dealing with clan things and I deal with them almost daily," Madara responded.
Sakura laughed and he felt her relax slightly. The further into the village they walked, the busier the streets became, and the closer she pressed to his side to avoid bumping into the other festival goers. The glow of the lanterns recently lit, the sound of chatter, laughter, and music filled the village, and Madara couldn't deny it gave him a sense of satisfaction to see the village in a state of prosperity. He walked quite happily with Sakura, weaving between the people, looking at the things she pointed out, responding to her queries and comments while being aware that they were being looked at by everyone they walked by. He found himself in a state of a pleasant sense that being with Sakura was as natural as breathing.
He noted the positions of the shinobi who were on patrol, those hidden and not hidden, and made a mental note to acknowledge those who did their jobs well and admonish those who didn't. There was another hour until the fireworks were scheduled to go off, and with the crowd becoming more full with each moment in anticipation for them, they decided to find a place to sit and eat a small meal before they found a photographer and waited for the fireworks.
They had to walk a little out of the main market and duck into a side street to find a place to sit and eat. The illumination of the lanterns only just reached them, but it didn't matter to either of them. They sat and shared their food, talking quietly to each other in the comfortable companionship Madara had come to appreciate. When they went to walk to find the photographer, instead of looping her arm through his, Sakura took his hand. It was more intimate in its informality and he couldn't hold back the smug grin on his face. Under the eyes of the villagers, Madara and Sakura posed side-by-side and hand-in-hand for the photograph that would go in the frame she'd made for him. A flash, a blush, and a small, nervous but happy giggle from Sakura later, and they headed to somewhere with a better view of the fireworks.
Atop Hokage Tower, Hashirama watched as Sakura and Madara posed together for a photograph with a soft smile on his face. Mito put a hand over his chest and looked down at them as well.
"It appears they're becoming comfortable in the open," she said quietly, shifting so her cheek was resting comfortably on his upper arm.
"It's sickening," Tobirama said, walking up and taking a place beside them.
Hashirama looked at his brother over Mito's head with a mildly exasperated stare. Tobirama just shrugged back at him.
"Don't be like that, Tobirama," Mito said. "They're happy."
"They can be happy in private," he replied.
"They are," Hashirama said. "But maybe they don't want to keep it secret anymore."
"That's why the Nara adopted her, isn't it?" Tobirama said after a moment.
"Partly. But the little Nara is as possessive over her as you are," he teased.
"I am not possessive," Tobirama denied with a scoff.
"No?" Hashirama's eyes glinted with amusement. "Not over your little Saki?"
Tobirama stared at him with surprise, then a flash of understanding passed over his eyes before they narrowed dangerously. Hashirama looked away and held back a laugh.
"They're coming," Mito said.
Hashirama looked down and saw a pink and a black head closing in on the tower.
"They'll be late if they walk any slower," Tobirama muttered.
"Oh hush," Mito replied, turning to give Tobirama a little smack on the arm. "They won't miss a thing."
While Sakura, Madara, Hashirama, Mito, and Tobirama watched the fireworks in privacy and with an uninterrupted view from the top of Hokage tower, the hospital roof became a place of surprises for Hikari Shimura. Sneaking away from her station at the entrance to the hospital, she made her way up to the roof a few minutes before the fireworks were scheduled, only to be shocked at what she saw waiting for her. Shouta, Inoyuki and his twin Inora Yamanaka, Chojime and his younger brother Chotoriko Akimichi, Sana and Satomi Nara and Mei Sarutobi were all gathered on the rooftop talking, laughing and waiting for her.
"Took you long enough," Shikata's drool voice came from beside her.
She jumped, startled at his sudden appearance from the shadows.
"Shika? What is this?"
He shrugged.
"You're the only one of us who actually has work. We figured this would be a nice break."
Hikari threw her arms around him in a tight hug.
"Thank you," she breathed.
"Yeah, yeah," he said, shrugging himself out of the hug. "Thank Inoyuki, it was his idea."
"Inoyuki's?" Hikari asked with surprise.
She looked over at Inoyuki, who was grinning widely at her. Shikata walked off to rejoin his cousins when he walked over, and Hikari smiled, blushing lightly at the sight of the handsome Yamanaka.
"This was really nice of you," she said. "Thank you."
He shrugged, looking away a little bashfully.
"I thought you deserved your own little festival," he replied. "You're always working or walking around with a book in your hands."
"I have a lot to study," she said a little defensively.
"I never said it was a bad thing," he said. "But I did have to save you from walking into a pole once."
Hikari wasn't sure why she blushed, but she did, and then she laughed because it was a funny memory.
"My hero," she grinned.
Inoyuki looked like he wanted to say something else, but Hikari's attention was stolen by Satomi, who called her over. She left with one last look at Inoyuki, feeling a little warm and fuzzy, aware he was watching her go with those eyes that seemed to see through her.
"Want some dango?" Satomi offered her a stick.
Hikari took it happily and saw Sana and Shouta chatting quietly together. There was something about how close they stood, how quiet they spoke, the look on Sana's face, that made an uneasy sensation roll through her. She averted her eyes, ate one of the dango and bitterly thought how nice it was for Shouta to finally make a friend his own age.
A sudden whistle and showering explosion burst into the sky in colour and light.
"The fireworks!" Satomi cried with excitement.
Everyone's faces turned to the sky and Hikari watched as the fireworks exploded into flowers of fire in golden, white, red, green and blue.
"So beautiful," Hikari breathed.
"Yeah," Inoyuki said, suddenly appearing beside her.
She glanced up at him and saw he was smiling at her.
"Beautiful," he repeated, and Hikari instantly understood that he wasn't talking about the fireworks and felt her entire body seize up and heat like she was a firework about to explode.
His pale blue eyes were focused on her, and she felt strangely exposed looking at them like she always did around the Yamanaka.
"Y-you should be watching the fireworks," Hikari spluttered.
He gave her a lopsided grin.
"I will if you promise something," he said.
Hikari frowned, her heart pounding in her chest.
"What?"
He leaned down and whispered in her ear.
"I have a craving for Nabe. Come with me tomorrow?"
"You want me to come to get Nabe?" She asked when he drew back. "Just the two of us?"
Inoyuki nodded, that grin still on his face, but a little nervousness in his eyes. Hikari swallowed. She did have the afternoon off, and it wouldn't hurt to get away from her studies for a little while. Inoyuki was a fun person to be around.
"Okay," she said after a moment in a quiet voice, blushing furiously.
"I'll come to get you around five," he said, looking away, back up at the fireworks like he said he would.
She caught sight of a smile on his face, and it made her heart beat faster.
"Okay," she repeated, a little smile forming on her face.
She felt an elbow in her other side and saw Mei wink at her. Hikari blushed even more furiously and tried to just watch the fireworks, but she and Inoyuki briefly caught eyes, and they shared another nervous smile and Hikari was too flustered to stand beside him any longer.
"I have to go back to work," she said with a stammer.
She escaped the protests by running away, and as soon as she was back at her work station at the front desk of the hospital, she leaned against the wall and let out a long sigh, that turned into a smile, and then gave a little excited squeal.
"What are you so happy about?"
Hikari froze and turned to see Shouta giving her an amused look, arms folded over his chest. She cleared her throat and stood off the wall.
"Nothing," she replied, her mood dropping instantly.
"Yeah, because your face is usually that red all the time," he said with a raised eyebrow.
"Shut up," she mumbled. "It's none of your business."
He seemed surprised at her sudden snap.
"Why'd you leave? The fireworks weren't finished," he said after a moment.
Hikari stood behind the desk and straightened the files there, avoiding looking at Shouta. She didn't want to tell him but she didn't really understand why. He let out an annoyed sigh.
"Fine. See you, Hikari."
"Whatever, go back to Sana," she muttered.
"What?" Shouta asked, turning back to her.
She stilled her jaw clenching.
"Go back to Sana? What is that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing," Hikari said through gritted teeth. "Just so happy you made a friend whose your own age."
He narrowed his eyes.
"You don't sound it."
"Don't I?"
He huffed in irritation.
"Why are you being such a brat?"
Hikari felt her entire body heat up in anger.
"I am not a brat!" She hissed. "Brats don't get asked out on dates. Apparently everyone except you knows I'm not a little kid."
"You're going on a date?"
He sounded shocked. Hikari looked at him in some disbelief.
"Is that so unbelievable?" She asked, feeling hurt. "Am I that repulsive that it would be such a shock to you?"
"I didn't realise you were interested in anyone," Shouta said after a moment.
Hikari twisted her lips.
"There's a lot of things you don't know about me, Shouta."
Shouta scoffed.
"I've spent almost every day of the last six months with you. There's little I don't know."
Hikari raised an eyebrow in challenge.
"Then I guess I don't have anything left to say to you then, do I?"
He stared at her.
"Why are you so angry?"
"I'm not angry!" She retorted loudly.
Shouta shook his head.
"You keep saying you're not a brat, but you certainly know how to act like one."
Hikari's hand shook. She turned on her heel, putting her back to him while she tried to contain herself. It took a moment, but she took a deep breath and mimicked Lady Sakura by plastering a smile on her face and relaxing her tense shoulders. She turned to Shouta, who looked at her warily.
"Please excuse my childish behaviour," she said with a clipped tone.
"Hikari - "
"I need to concentrate on my work."
She turned her attention resolutely to her files, ignoring Shouta's presence. After a moment, she heard him sigh and walk away. She refused to even glance at him, but she couldn't stop the growing empty ache that flowered in her chest. When she was sure she was alone, Hikari slowly lowered herself into a crouch and hugged her knees, feeling like she just did something really wrong.
The new year came and went without drama, but one major event surprised the village. In the middle of new years night, the Hatake clan had shown up, unannounced at the gates of Konoha. It had taken Hashirama, Tobirama, and Madara a few hours to verify their identities and make certain they weren't spies and understand why they'd shown up at such an inconvenient time, but in the end, Konoha was now home to the Hatake, and Sakura was ecstatic when she heard the news.
Sakura moved into her little forests-edge home on the Nara compound with the help of her new clan, who were eager to help her feel at home and Tobirama started his training with Hikari, who had a newfound determination to beat Shouta, although Sakura wasn't sure where that had sprung from. Without her students to occupy most of her mornings, Sakura used the free time to write in the journals she had brought a while ago.
Dear Kakashi,
The new year has passed, and it marks the beginning of the third year that I've been in the past - although, I was in a coma for one of those years.
You're probably freaking out reading that, aren't you? Well, something to make you even more worried: I'm not Sakura Haruno anymore, I'm Sakura Nara… I guess I should start at the beginning before you get the wrong idea. This is going to be a better read than Jiraiya's books. (Maybe I should make a new cover for this, so your reputation won't be tarnished by people seeing you with literature that isn't incredibly erotic.) ...
Knowing that Kakashi was going to know who she was in his new past brought her a sense of relief that was deeper than she ever thought it could be. The journaling became grounding for her, giving her back a sense of connection that she'd been lacking since Itachi's death. Although she needed to put the journals under the tightest security in the world - she was going to have to ask Mito for some fancy sealing jutsu.
When she wasn't writing in her journal, Sakura was alternating her training between solo training, and sessions with Takuma Senju and Natsuo Sarutobi. After spending the better part of the year rebuilding her body and training with Tobirama, Sakura was feeling better than ever. Her speed and reaction times were even faster than they had been during the war. Sakura was feeling good, but she wasn't satisfied. She knew that despite her own wishes and the rumours floating around the village, she simply wasn't at the level of Tobirama and the others yet. Tobi was four years older than her, with a lifetime of battle experience. The difference in their abilities was simply due to the time periods they grew up in. Sakura's youth was spent in a happy ignorance until she joined team 7. By that time, she was sure the others had already been on the front lines.
Sakura's goal had been to stand proudly beside Naruto and Sasuke, to be a worthy member of team 7. She had just achieved that before she was ripped away from any chance to explore it. Now, she had a new goal. A loftier goal, one she was terrified she'd never live up to, one that Kakashi could be proud and amazed of. It hadn't been something she'd considered until she's seen Mito seal the Nine-Tails, and listened to the whispers around the hospital at how Sakura's abilities to heal herself were comparable to the Hokage's. It was easy for Sakura to deduce that Lady Tsunade had designed her seal to mimic her grandfather's inborn talents.
But that event had planted a seed in her mind. The hospital was beginning to require less of her constant supervision. Madoka was one of the most reliable people Sakura had ever had the pleasure of working with, and the staff was mostly adjusted and accepting of the new things she'd implemented. Sakura was slowly being able to pass off some of the responsibilities to other recently promoted senior staff, and within six months, barring any emergencies, she wouldn't need to be stuck in her office all day every day, giving her time to work on her new goal. Sakura wasn't just going to be known as a great medic or a councilor. Sakura was - she hoped - going take her place beside Hashirama and Madara and Tobirama as one of the greatest shinobi that ever lived, and if she was going to do it, she was going to need more than just strength. She was going to need to become a Sage.
Unbeknownst to his new student, Tobirama had been observing her training with Sakura whenever he had a chance. For Hikari Shimura to reach and surpass his expectations, she was going to grow her chakra reserves, physical strength, and mental acuity. The specialised knowledge that she had from her intensive medical ninjutsu training was going to be helpful, but she was going to have to learn to apply it in different ways. Hikari wasn't naturally strong, but she had a lot of speed, and that made Tobirama excited. There were ways to work around not being as physically strong as an opponent, and speed was one of them. Sakura's praise of Hikari's quick understanding of medical ninjutsu meant that she was also intelligent, and he had witnessed that as he'd watched her training, and had even seen her come close to outwitting the Nara heir on occasion. She impressed him by being early to meet him before dawn at Hokage Tower for their first session, and even more so when he saw that not only was she alert and ready, she was also well-rested.
"Good morning, Lord Tobirama," she said with deference and a lowered head.
Tobirama gave her a look down his nose.
"Don't call me that," he said. "Tobirama, or Tobirama-sensei from now on."
She looked up with wide-eyes and nodded.
"Tobirama-sensei," she said, undisguised excitement in her voice.
He gave a small satisfied smile and nodded.
"Follow me," he said.
She fell into step beside him.
"Excuse me, Lord - Tobirama-sensei," she corrected herself. "Where are we going?"
"My private training ground," he replied. "It's sealed and I need to show you how to safely enter."
He glanced down and saw her hands fiddling nervously at her shirt.
"Is there something you wish to say?"
She looked up and he saw her gnawing at her lip the way Sakura often did when she was thinking.
"Tobirama-sensei, why me?" She asked, surprising him. "I'm no one special. Surely there are other younger students that you could take on that would benefit the village more than me."
He paused and folded his arms over his chest, staring at her in thought.
"That is true," he replied after a moment. "There is definitely far stronger shinobi your age with potential in the village."
He saw her deflate, her eyes looking defeated and insecure. Very unlike what he'd witnessed in her over the last few months.
"So why do you think I've chosen you?"
"I really couldn't say," she said quietly, looking down at her feet.
"Take a guess."
She looked up at him, still unsure and then down again. He watched her clench her jaw in thought, a little frown forming.
"I'm fast," she said after a moment. "And, Lady Sakura's already been training me."
"Half-correct," Tobirama replied and continued walking. She quickly caught up to him. "Your natural speed is appealing and means it's likely you'll have the ability to learn several of my techniques, alongside the chakra control you've garnered from medical ninjutsu, there's a good chance you'll meet the expectations I have. However, there are several other reasons I've selected you and I'll reveal them if you impress me enough at the end of today."
Hikari walked alongside him in silence for a moment.
"I made a promise to Lady Sakura, Shouta and myself," she said finally. "I won't let you down."
Tobirama smirked a little, glad the insecurity was gone from her voice.
"I should hope not."
He worked Hikari until she couldn't stand without shaking legs. He didn't spar with her as Sakura did. He ran her into the ground with drills to test her speed, stamina, and control under stress and fatigue. Only once did she leak an exhausted tear, but she played it off as sweat, collected herself and stood tall and slightly unsteady before his challenging gaze. At the end of their hour and a half training session, Tobirama was impressed. Hikari had performed well. Not perfectly, but her mistakes were made in a manner that showed him her potential. He assumed her insecurity came from growing up in a clan that didn't encourage the women to be powerful shinobi, and her youth because the girl had far more promise than she realised.
Hikari dropped to her knees in relief when he called the end of their session. She panted hard, falling onto her arms, sweat dripping from her face to the grass below. He couldn't help but chuckle.
"Shall I send a messenger to Sakura and tell her you're too tired to get to the hospital?" He asked, amused and slightly teasing.
Hikari gave him a little glare, but it fell quickly and she hung her head and mumbled something.
"What was that?"
"Did I impress you?" She asked, rolling over onto her back, breathing heavily with her eyes closed.
"Why?" Tobirama asked her.
"I want to know why else you chose me," Hikari said breathlessly.
He did say that he'd tell her why, and she had impressed him. Tobirama took a seat beside her and handed her water, which she took gratefully. He pulled his knees up loosely held them in his arms, looking over the lush green field.
"There are many things that make a great shinobi," he said after a moment. "War makes its survivors hard and strong by necessity, but it is no way to live a good life. Konoha is the result of two people putting aside their prejudice and hatred for a vision of the future where war is a choice instead of life."
He took a breath and glanced at Hikari, who was looking intently at him, listening.
"You have never seen a battlefield, have you?"
She shook her head.
"No, Tobirama-sensei. Only Shimura men went to war," she said quietly. "And then there was the sickness. The first battle I saw was the Nine-Tails."
"Ah," Tobirama remembered. "When Sakura skewered herself to save you."
Hikari blushed shamefully and nodded.
"A harsh introduction," he murmured. "The Nine-Tails is vicious and hate-filled."
"He was terrifying," Hikari breathed. "But now resides safely within Lady Mito."
Safe was a relative term, he thought, remembering Mito out of control not so long ago. He didn't respond to her comment and instead continued to speak about his reasons for taking her on.
"You are part of a generation that will hopefully have the luxury to grow without constant war, to grow with the village. Do you know what the Will of Fire is?"
Hikari nodded eagerly, wiping her forehead with the back of her sleeve.
"It's what the village is founded on. Lady Sakura always reminds us of it in the hospital," she said. "She says medics are the backbone of the village and because our jobs are to keep the shinobi alive, we have to have the strongest will."
"Indeed? That is good to know."
Tobirama was pleased with her philosophy and teaching. He looked at Hikari.
"I chose you to be my student because I see the Will of Fire in you."
"You do?"
Her eyes went wide. He narrowed his eyes a little at her.
"Did you not disobey your clan and request permission of the Hokage to work in the hospital?"
She reddened slightly.
"I did."
"What was the reason?"
Hikari seemed startled by the questioned and stammered slightly as she answered.
"I-I didn't want to be stuck in a house. I - I love Konoha. I wanted to be a part of it, to do something, to become something."
"That determination is what both Sakura and I see in you," he said. "You have higher values than that of your clan, and that is a necessary trait of all the shinobi of Konoha. Do you have a nindo?"
She frowned.
"What is that?"
"A ninja way. Something you live by."
"Like the Will of Fire?" She asked with a deeper frown.
"All shinobi of Konoha live by that nindo. But your own nindo is something more personal than that."
She shook her head.
"I've never thought about that before," she said.
"Think on it," he told her.
He held out a hand and helped lift Hikari to her feet.
"It doesn't need to be complicated, but it is important and will shape the way you train and think and live from now onwards."
She swallowed, nodded and then she bowed a little.
"Thank you for believing in me, Tobirama-sensei."
Tobirama felt a little awkward at the bow and cleared his throat.
"Don't be late tomorrow," he said gruffly. "Make sure you eat right and keep up your strength. Training will only be harder from now on."
"Yes, Tobirama-sensei," she said, grinning. "See you tomorrow. Lady Sakura's going to kill me if I'm late!"
Tobirama watched in some amazement as she somehow mustered enough energy to run off. He shook his head slightly and let out a sigh. At least he knew that she was unlikely to irritate him, although he had a feeling that when he introduced to the kid he was going to start training in the next few months after he turned eleven, she was immediately going to dislike him. In any case, Tobirama was looking forward to six months from now when he would witness Hikari beating that Shouta into the ground and wiping the smug smirk off Madara's face.
Much to Sakura's displeasure, she was still required to meet with all the clans, despite the now seemingly confirmed rumours that she and Madara were, in fact, in a relationship. It had been something pushed aside because of Kumo and the festival and in general, she forgot and didn't want to do it anyway. There was one good thing about being a newly named Nara, however, and that meant that she could have an escort to the dinners. As Shikaru was more than willing to establish his position as her guardian and father, he jumped at the chance to accompany her to the Inuzuka compound.
When they arrived, they were greeted by Kou and his wife, Mami. Kou laughed when he saw Shikaru with her, but he greeted them with the Inuzuka hospitality Sakura remembered from Kiba and his mother: warm with a bit of an edge. Mami was a little less rambunctious, but still very much an Inuzuka with her canines pressing into her lower lip as she smiled. The further into the compound they entered, they were immediately surrounded by grinning children and watched warily in the distance by several large hounds.
"Are you a Nara?"
"Why's your hair pink?"
"Your ponytail is spiky!"
"Do you like dogs?"
"Are you named Sakura because of your pink hair? Or are you pink because you're named Sakura?"
The questions were bombarded at Sakura and Shikaru quicker than they could answer. Sakura gave Kou a pleading look and he only gave another bark of laughter and opened his arms wide.
"Welcome to the Inuzuka clan," he declared with a fanged smile.
Much like the Akimichi, the Inuzuka also held an outdoor party. But instead of there being several fire pits, there was a large bonfire heating the area so much it didn't feel like winter at all, and a buffet of food was provided at a long table that people picked at. The lack of ceremony made Sakura feel more comfortable than she had at the Sarutobi or Shimura dinners. She doubted she'd ever get used to formal clan functions, which, she realised, if she did end up an Uchiha at some point, she would have a lifetime to look forward too.
Oka, Kou's daughter, was the same age as Danzo. She distracted Sakura from her thoughts by introducing her to her puppy Namaru.
"He's going to grow up to be fierce, isn't he?" Sakura said when Namaru growled and yipped at her.
Oka giggled and nodded.
"He's the best pup in the whole clan!"
Sakura heard Kou telling Shikaru how much potential Oka and Namaru had, especially for their respective ages.
"I guess we'll see if you're right when the academy opens," Shikaru replied with a smile.
"I'm so excited to go there!" Oka exclaimed, putting Namaru, on her head like Kiba used to do.
The pup settled into Oka's mess of brown hair comfortably.
"It'll be a lot of fun," Sakura said to her.
Oka nodded eagerly.
"Yeah, I bet. I play with some friends at the park sometimes, and I learn lots of stuff from mummy and daddy, but it'll be really cool to learn with everyone and from lots of people."
"You're a wise child," Shikaru commented.
Oka frowned.
"I'm not old."
"Wise doesn't mean old," Kou laughed, patting his daughters back.
Oka shrugged.
"I'm gonna go play. Bye Sakura!"
She waved as she ran off, and Namaru bounded from her head to the ground.
"I am glad Shikata was never that energetic," Shikaru murmured, watching her run off.
"So what's it like having a daughter then, Shikaru?" Kou asked, leaning back on his seat, looking between Shikaru and Sakura with interest.
"The last two and a half weeks have been uneventful," Shikaru answered. "But I'm sure that will change with time."
"Uneventful?" Kou gave a bark of laughter. "Your new kid is the talk of the village."
"Is she?" Shikaru asked.
Sakura frowned. Was she? Kou waved a hand.
"Of course," he grinned. "The new Nara girl who looks nothing like any other Nara anyone's ever seen."
Sakura tugged at her hair.
"It's not like I have a choice," she said. "I was born with this hair."
"And then there's your little romance with the Uchiha," Kou continued. "Attending the festival together, what gossip sprouted from that!"
Sakura tried to keep the blush from her cheeks.
"Don't even bother denying the two of you have been sharing a bed."
Kou tapped his nose and Sakura looked at him, startled, and even Shikaru looked aghast.
"Can't hide it from an Inuzuka."
"That's not appropriate," Shikaru said sternly.
Kou grinned.
"Oh, the fatherly side of you finally makes an appearance."
Shikaru folded his arms over his chest.
"I know you're just trying to make me react in some way," Sakura said with an irritated frown, "and I know there are things you can't hide from an Inuzuka. I'm not denying anything."
Kou leaned forward and a fanged canine tooth peeked out from his lips as he looked at her with wicked amusement. Sakura gave him a level look back, and he scoffed a laugh.
"I think we're going to have a lot of fun in the future, Sakura Nara. I like you," he stated with a satisfied nod.
Sakura slowly smiled back at him.
"If you ever need someone to put you back in your place, I'm your girl," she teased.
"Please don't hold back your punches," Mami said as she approached them with a smile. "You're more than welcome to teach him a lesson any time."
"Betrayed by my own wife," Kou laughed heartily.
Mami rolled her eyes.
"You know, before he realised what was happening with you and Madara, he was planning to try and bribe you into marrying into the clan."
Sakura almost choked on her spit as she laughed in disbelief. Shikaru seemed put out, but still had a slight upturn of his lips.
"Bribe me?" Sakura asked with a cough.
"Who doesn't want a great medic in their clan?" Kou shrugged. "And you're a looker. It'd make for some interestingly powered kids."
"Unless someone forced me a the moment before I died to marry someone I don't love, no clan would ever have convinced me to marry into it," Sakura told him.
"That's exactly why I like you," Kou grinned. "You've got the Inuzuka spirit. It's a pity you joined the stiff-as-all-heck Nara." He gave Shikaru a challenging and amused grin. "Always so in their own prickly heads."
Shikaru shifted.
"I'm going to take that as a compliment, otherwise I'll be insulted."
"Whatever helps you sleep," Kou shrugged.
Mami smacked the back of his head.
"Kou, you're such a rude man," she admonished.
"It's refreshing," Sakura smiled. "I prefer honesty over politic manners any day."
Mami gave her a grin.
"Kou's right, you really would fit right in here. You should come around more often."
"Sakura's going to come to play again?" Oka asked, running up to them.
Her long brown hair was a mess, and there was ash smeared on her face over her red-fanged cheeks. She looked at Sakura with shining eyes.
"Sure," Sakura replied. "One day."
Oka cheered and ran off again.
The night continued until well after midnight, and Shikaru practically begged Sakura to leave before she was ready. The Inuzuka were a lot of fun, and she couldn't remember the last time she'd laughed so much. It was good to finally see Kou outside of official meetings, where he was a little more subdued than he was in regular life.
"How many more of these do you have to go too?" Shikaru asked with a sigh as they walked home.
Sakura hummed in thought.
"Yamanaka. Senju. Uchiha. Oh, and Hatake now, I guess."
Shikaru sighed in relief.
"Well, I suppose that's not going to be terrible. Let's leave the Uchiha for last. I have a feeling that's going to be a more important meeting than the others."
Sakura huffed unhappily.
"I don't like having to impress people just to be happy," she muttered.
Shikaru put his hand comfortingly on her back.
"You don't need to impress them," he said. "They need to impress you, and don't think for a moment that Madara would let anyone else dictate his life. Except maybe Hashirama."
"Good thing he likes me then," Sakura sighed.
Shikaru chuckled.
"Did you ever think your life would come to this point?"
Sakura looked at him.
"Do you seriously even need to ask me that?"
Sakura stopped walking. Shikaru looked at her in question, and then she threw her arms around him and hugged him, squeezing her eyes tightly shut. She felt his surprise and hesitation before he hugged her back.
"I never thought I'd be here," she whispered. "But thank you for always being here for me, even when I was just a strange girl asking for way too much trust."
Shikaru pulled back from the hug and planted a kiss on her forehead.
"I'll always be here for you, daughter," he said.
Sakura felt her eyes well up and in the darkness, father and daughter shared a smile.
When Kana Uchiha and her husband showed up on Madara's door, he knew that it was going to the beginning of an interesting day. Tea was served in the tea room where he met his guests, and they sat in silence for a moment until Kana cleared her throat.
"The council would like to make a request of you, Lord Madara," Kana said.
Madara indicated he was listening with a slight twitch in his eyebrow as he took a drink of his tea.
"We would like to be formally introduced to Lady Sakura."
"Indeed? For what purpose?"
Usui chuckled in his low, amused way.
"There's no need to be coy here, young Madara," he said with a twinkle in his eye. "You're in no danger of judgment here. Those other old bats on the council are just bored and need to pick over something to occupy themselves."
Kana admonished her husband with a glare, but Madara smirked.
"I want to meet the lady who captured your attention. She must be a beauty and a powerful one from all I hear," Usui continued.
Kana sighed.
"Lord Madara, you must have realised that attending the festival together would cause rumours to spread among the clan, adding fuel to the fire that had already been gossiped about."
Madara put his tea down, considering her words.
"I have been courting Sakura for several months," he said eventually.
Usui grinned.
"Good man."
Madara had forgotten how much he liked Usui. He rarely saw the man, but he seemed to have become more mischievous with each passing year.
"I suspected as much," Kana replied. "Her adoption into the Nara clan was an interesting move."
"You can infer whatever you wish from it," Madara said sharply. "But it was not a political move."
"I like Lady Sakura. Please don't take such a tone with me, I am simply the messenger," she said grouchily.
Madara softened his features.
"The last time the council approached me about Sakura it was not a pleasant conversation."
"Bah, old fools," Usui said with a wave of his hand.
"You're just as old as the rest of us," Kana said.
"But not as foolish," Usui responded.
"I will speak to Sakura and send a message for the next meeting," Madara said.
"Good," Kana nodded.
"I have an idea," Usui announced.
"Oh dear," Kana muttered.
Madara waited for him to explain it.
"Oh! I have such aching in my head," Usui claimed dramatically.
Madara almost rolled his eyes.
"I suppose we need to go to the hospital and have a good medic look at it," Kana said flatly.
"What a fine idea, wife of mine."
Madara wondered if he should send a warning to Sakura. But then decided that it would be more interesting to hear her tell him all about her surprise visit later.