Chapter 26: Students
"Faster."
Tobirama-sensei's demanding voice cut through Hikari's exhausted panting.
"I can't go faster," Hikari muttered feeling a bit desperate.
"You can," Tobirama-sensei said with a disapproving frown. "Do it."
Hikari grit her teeth, took a deep breath and readied herself.
"Wait," Tobirama said suddenly, pulling out five kunai.
Hikari eyed them suspiciously.
"What are they for?"
"Incentive," he replied.
Her eyes widened.
"If you don't dodge them, you're not moving fast enough."
Hikari stared at him in disbelief.
"Get ready."
There was no joke in his tone or expression. The only thing Hikari could think was that if she did manage to get stabbed, Lady Sakura would be furious - not with her, with Tobirama-sensei. Lady Sakura would just be disappointed in her and Hikari couldn't bear to see that on her face, even if it came with the bonus of Lady Sakura fighting Tobirama-sensei.
Hikari lowered into a stance, flexed her fingers and narrowed her eyes on the eight targets in front of her. She had one second per target, eight seconds, to touch each of them. But there were scattered at differing distances around the field, some further than others and the most she'd been able to touch was six. She was really beginning to question just who Tobirama-sensei thought she was. She wasn't some prodigy or born into a clan known for its natural shinobi prowess. She'd only been training - real training - as a shinobi for the last year.
She glanced at the kunai in Tobirama's hand and swallowed. She didn't know when or where he would throw them, and her anxiety increased. If any of them hit her the moment of impact would be enough to distract and injure her, as well as impact on her already limited time. She closed her eyes briefly, remembering what he'd been telling her about keeping control over her bodily responses to adrenaline, and then she moved. Hikari hit the first two targets before she sensed the first kunai coming straight for her head. All her senses kicked in, her body responded instinctively with a rush of adrenaline and a spike in her chakra. She increased her speed in a panic, forcing herself to move faster and faster as she flickered from target to target, her hand slapping against each one. Tobirama-sensei saved the last three kunai for the last three targets, but she never made it to the sixth, having to pull up before a kunai sliced off her nose. She stood still, moments after it had gone past her, staring and blinking in shock. Her heart raced and she panted.
"Not fast enough," Tobirama-sensei said, breaking her from her shocked freeze.
She turned her head.
"You could've killed me," she breathed, growing angry.
Tobirama-sensei said nothing and Hikari grit her teeth, tears coming to her eyes. She looked away.
"You're not trying hard enough," he said with a sigh.
Hikari clenched her jaw angrily.
"I am," she grunted.
"What was that?" He asked.
"I am trying!" She shouted in frustration, turning to him with a red face and wide, desperate eyes. "I can't go any faster!"
Hikari stood there shaking with tears streaming down her face, glaring at Tobirama-sensei, who stared back impassively at her. Hikari scrunched her eyes closed, angry and ashamed that she was actually crying in front of Tobirama-sensei. She roughly wiped her face, making soft grunts of frustration. She peeked at Tobirama-sensei who was still standing there, just staring at her. Seconds passed and then Hikari was suddenly forced to dodge the kunai he threw at her. She jumped backward and stared at the kunai embedded in the ground at her feet before she looked back up at Tobirama-sensei with considerable shock.
Before she could open her mouth to speak again, he threw another kunai at her, and another, and another, and Hikari was forced to dodge his kunai and shuriken until he came at her with his body and engaged her in a battle of taijutsu. Hikari was too flustered to do more than weakly block him and he easily knocked her on her back. She hit the ground hard, winding herself a little. She groaned and lifted herself up onto her elbows, looking at him with a pained and confused expression.
"You're not strong enough to face me head on," he said staring down at her. "Use your strengths. Try to land a hit on me," he mocked.
Hikari narrowed her eyes and her confusion was forgotten. She bared her teeth in anger at him, moved from her elbows til she was laying back again, planted her hands on the ground behind her head and pushed herself up and backward, kicking out with her legs as she cartwheeled away and landed in a crouch, before springing forwards and attacking him again. Quick attacks, jabs with her fists and elbows, kicks, spins, and ducks, before retreating and changing her angle of attack.
"Good," Tobirama said as he dodged and blocked her. "Make me move, try and disorient me."
As she attempted to land a hit in his ribs, she overreached and he hit her shoulder with his palm and she stumbled back to the ground, landing on her hands and knees. She winced in pain.
"Don't overreach and don't take your eyes off your opponent."
Hikari saw his feet in her peripheral and spun on her hands to kick out his legs, but she kicked nothing but air.
"Not fast enough," he said again.
She was getting really annoyed at hearing that. She whipped around to where she heard his voice and saw him standing there, all smug and superior. He wanted fast? She would show him fast. Hikari hadn't used the flicker technique much as a method of fighting, but if it would help her wipe the irritating smirk of Tobirama-sensei's face, she was going to give it everything she had. She had a plan, and she just needed a second to do it. She gathered her chakra and moved, appearing first behind him, and giving him two quick jabs which he blocked, then she was behind him attacking again, but he was faster than her and he anticipated her moves. Three times she retreated, moving around him in quick succession, attacking quickly and then she flickered behind him again, but this time she landed in a crouch and in rapid-fire motion managed to hit several points on his legs, cutting off his chakra supply and disabling three muscles before she quickly jumped back. She stood panting and feeling a little faint from the exertion of chakra she'd just used. Tobirama looked down at his legs with a frown and surprise and then back up at Hikari. She was surprised he was still standing.
"That is something not many people can do with such accuracy," Tobirama said with a raised eyebrow.
Hikari's glare slowly faded, and she took some deep breaths to slow her heaving lungs. She'd used too much chakra, and she was feeling it. She blinked a few times before answering him.
"I'm a medic," Hikari said. "It's basic anatomical knowledge."
He gave her an appraising look.
"You were smart, but you used too much chakra, you look like you're about to faint."
Hikari didn't reply, she just focused on her breathing and trying to listen.
"The speed you used then was faster than the drill, because you haven't learned how to train like someone's trying to kill you. You can move faster, you need to teach yourself how."
Hikari swallowed.
"Tobirama-sensei, please don't throw kunai at my head again."
"Hikari?"
The world slowly faded and Hikari passed out.
Tobirama caught Hikari just before she hit her face on the ground, but without the full use of his legs, he was unsteady and fell to his knees, unsure if he'd be able to stand again. He looked down at her with a mix of irritation and some pride, turning her over in his arms so he was cradling her and let out a deep sigh. Apparently, Hikari had a streak of vindictive rage much like Sakura. He hadn't expected her to do any damage to him whatsoever, let alone disable his legs as much as she did, that was certainly unexpected, and there was no way he was going to tell anyone she had managed it.
He laid her down on the grass gently and kneeled over her, performing his own medical jutsu to check that she was all right. He wasn't as skilled or knowledgable as Sakura, but he knew enough to know that Hikari wasn't in any danger. He let out a slightly relieved sigh and then decided to lay back on the grass beside her and wait. He was in no rush to go out and get back to work, or try and wrangle his brother into doing work. Either Hashirama would take his absence as permission to blow work off, or he'd be incredibly stressed that Tobirama would pop in at any moment and therefore be working diligently to avoid a scolding. Whatever the case, Tobirama's current condition, although he could reverse it if he wished, was a good excuse for him to take a break and think about his unconscious student and her progression as a shinobi.
Hikari was a constantly improving surprise. In the few weeks they'd been training, Tobirama had noted a marked improvement on her base speed, and an increase in the speed of her tactical thinking. She was a quick learner, and although she usually attempted to act as though she were the most disciplined and clear-headed shinobi around, her immaturity and youth showed through more often than he guessed she was aware. Hikari was an expressive person, and when she was nearing exhaustion, she was almost constantly teary. Tobirama was close to feeling some kind of fondness towards her. Except for those moments when she openly complained to him of her problems. It hadn't taken long for the red-faced and deferential Hikari to grow exceeding comfortable with him, which was surprising to him. However, he guessed Sakura had spoken enough about him to calm her down significantly in his presence. Or perhaps it was just a trait of her personality to become comfortable with people she spent time around.
While Tobirama was currently focused on building Hikari's speed and stamina, he had been formulating ideas for developing her own special ninjutsu. Hikari's primary chakra nature was wind, but she seemed unaware that she also had a secondary nature with water. Again, he assumed it was a fault in the Shimura's general lack of attention on their women, and it wasn't of great concern to a medic. With two chakra natures, medical ninjutsu and her speed, Tobirama had to admit that the girl was truly a gift. He could only thank Sakura that she had also recognised that as good a medic as Hikari had the potential to be, she also had great potential to be an asset to the village, far more than anyone had realised.
As much as he wanted Hikari to be solely focused on her combat training instead of medical, Tobirama respected what Sakura was trying to achieve. Also, the chakra control training would be instrumental in his plans for the development of her special jutsu. All in all, Tobirama thought with a sigh, staring at the cloud, the test against Shouta Uchiha was going to be an interesting battle. He was going to have to teach her how to fight against the Sharingan, and if she pulled it off, Tobirama could only feel eager to see how Hikari Shimura was going to shape up in a years time.
Shouta was sweating, trembling and terrified.
"Deep breaths," Lord Madara murmured softly. "Calm your mind."
Shouta forced deeper inhales and slowly, methodically released each of his fingers from their vice-gripped fists. Lord Madara stood in front of him, calm, resolute, unwavering. The belief of his clan leader - the confidence of Madara Uchiha, who'd been a legend since he was a child - Shouta never thought he'd see it directed towards him. Less than a year ago Shouta had been living in the dark, with dark moods and dark thoughts, in pain and misery and teetering on the edge of life and death. Then a pushy and loud woman named Matsuri, with her son on her hip had pulled him from his brooding and thrust him into the sterile lights of the hospital and a strange new teacher. In ten months Shouta's life had completely changed, but there was one thing Shouta hadn't been able to face, and that was the thing that had scarred his body and left him bedridden for a year.
"What is fire to you?" Lord Madara asked in a quiet voice.
Shouta clenched his jaw, his throat thickening. He didn't answer. Lord Madara repeated the question, a more insistent tone to his voice and Shouta knew he had to reply.
"Agony," he gasped through trembling lips. "Heat. Burning."
Shouta's heart raced as the memories of that day came back into the forefront of his mind. A wall of fire. The smell of his flesh burning. The feeling and not feeling everything, he looked away, his face contorting in pain. Madara's firm hand on his shoulder broke Shouta's thoughts and he blinked, turning back to look at him.
"Breathe," he said.
Shouta breathed. Madara turned his free palm upwards and released some chakra. Shouta knew what he was about to do and tensed. Madara's hand became firmer on his shoulder, whilst the chakra changed form into fire. Shouta flinched.
"Fire is many things," Madara said, looking at the flame in his palm. "Fire burns. It can be agonising and turn deadly in a second, turning on those who need it. It can be the most deadly and dangerous weapon in the world."
Madara looked back at Shouta.
"Do you know what else fire is?"
Shouta swallowed and shook his head, eyeing the fire with a mixture of fear and anxiety.
"Life," Madara said.
There was a wistfulness in his voice that drew Shouta's attention from the ball of fire in his hand to his face.
"Life?" He asked uncertainly.
Madara removed his hand from his shoulder and the flame flickered out of his other.
"Fire is like a finely honed shinobi; something to be awed, feared and respected by," Madara said. "For while fire might burn and destroy, it also provides. It gives us heat, to warm our cold bodies, to cook our food, to forge our weapons. It can be used to burn away illness, and light our way in the dark. A wildfire will wipe out a forest, but in its wake, seedlings and saplings will grow to create a new life - new forest."
Shouta listened carefully.
"Fire gives and it takes. It is both destruction and renewal, life and death. The Uchiha know this well. Our fans feed the flames of our clan, and despite what the world might think of us, we are not a cold-blooded people. Our veins burn with molten flame, affecting our emotions. We do not feel shallowly or superficially. When we love, we love with all we have, and when we hate…" he trailed off and looked at Shouta again.
"We master fire, not only because it is an innate ability of our blood, but because we must choose to be its master or servant."
"What do you mean?" Shouta asked with some confusion.
"Take off your shirt," Madara ordered.
Shouta clenched his jaw, and with hesitation and reluctance, removed his shirt.
"These are not the scars of a victim," Madara said.
He gave Shouta a hard look.
"Are you a victim?" He asked, demandingly.
"I - I - " Shouta stuttered, not knowing what to say or how to respond.
"Well?"
"N-no," he said after a moment.
"Then what are you?"
Shouta stared at him, uncomprehendingly.
"What are you?" Madara asked again. "If you're not a victim, then what are you?"
The question struck Shouta as something he'd never thought before. He didn't know how to reply until he realised the answer.
"A survivor," he breathed. "A survivor."
Madara seemed satisfied with the answer.
"Yes. A survivor. You fell victim to a horrible incident, but you survived. You have walked through the fire and come out the other side. So what, exactly, do you have left to be afraid of?"
Again, Shouta was struck still with the question. He stared at Madara for a moment before he looked down. He couldn't remember what his bare skin had looked like, felt like, before he was almost burned alive. Almost a year ago, his scars had been an angry red and a web of white, stretched and painful all day and night as he grew. Now the scars were closer to the colour of his regular skin, the red dulled to a point close to invisibility, and it was no longer painful. Survivor. The word echoed in his head. There was no one else who he could say had suffered more from the flames than he, no one else who knew them better.
"You know the signs," Madara said, stepping back.
He did know the signs. All Uchiha knew the signs. Shouta took a breath.
Survivor.
He brought his hands together in front of his chest and raised his head.
Tiger.
He felt his chakra flow in his stomach.
Ram.
He began to knead it.
Monkey.
He breathed deeply.
Boar.
His chakra form changed.
Horse.
He felt the heat rising inside himself.
Tiger.
Survivor.
A great stream of fire spewed forth from his mouth, creating a massive sphere in front of him. He felt it, and for a moment he felt like he was watching himself from outside his body. He felt the heat, and for the first time since he could remember, Shouta was not afraid. The jutsu stopped, and Shouta dropped his hands, panting slightly as he stared ahead at the empty air that had moments ago been filled with fire.
"Well done, Shouta."
Madara's voice came from behind him.
"Well done."
Sakura looked at Hashirama with a troubled frown.
"It is a good deal," she murmured.
Hashirama let out a sigh.
"It is."
She passed him back the missive from Kumogakure over his desk and bit her lip.
He motioned behind her.
"Take a seat."
Sakura turned and took a chair from the wall. She assumed they were going to be in the office for a while if he told her to sit. She placed the chair before the desk and sat, wondering about the persistence of Kumo.
"So what do you think?" Hashirama asked her, leaning on his elbows on the table and folding his hands thoughtfully.
"I think," Sakura said slowly, "that they're offering this to distract from their true purpose."
"And what might that be?" Hashirama asked.
Sakura shrugged.
"I don't know. They're historically greedy for power, that's all I know."
"Tobirama thinks that this is a kind of political coercion."
Sakura raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"They're only offering a trade for your cooperation with their hospital," he said. "Meaning that it wouldn't happen for months, and since they've requested you specifically, you would be gone from the village for months, perhaps a year or more."
Hashirama's frown deepened.
"While the trade would benefit both or lands, and strengthen our relationship, there are many other negative factors."
"Like losing your head medic for a year," Sakura replied.
"Tobirama also thinks they might use this as a chance to… negotiate the return of the fan that Gold and Silver Brothers had."
"What is that fan?" Sakura asked. "I know Tobirama did a lot of research about it."
"It's one of the Sage of Six Paths treasured tools," Hashirama replied.
Sakura's eyes widened.
"It's a very powerful weapon. Apparently, those brothers Madara disposed of were direct descendants of the Sage," he replied.
Sakura nodded slowly.
"That…makes sense. I have a vague idea…"
Her brows knitted together.
"Something about the war," she trailed off. "I can't remember. Too much was happening."
He gave her a small smiled.
"You can't be expected to remember everything Sakura."
She grimaced.
"It would help," she muttered.
Then she frowned and sighed.
"Negotiate. Tobirama thinks they'd keep me there?"
He nodded and then Hashirama groaned.
"All I want is for our lands to be at peace and work together, but they make it so difficult."
Sakura gave him an empathetic smile.
"I'm sorry, Hashirama. I don't envy your ambition or job." She bit her lip. "Perhaps…"
He looked at her hopefully.
"Yes?"
Sakura twisted her lips in thought. The chance to collaborate and learn new and secret techniques was incredibly appealing, not to mention she'd be privy to the village and its secrets for an extended period of time. Sarui had given her hints at some techniques that she wasn't even sure that Tsunade had known, and guessed had been lost throughout the years of war when those who knew them were gone. The profits that could be made from the trade deal, plus the possible good relations, it gave Sakura some doubt on what she was the right thing to do. But, in the end, she knew that there was no way that she could leave, and she told Hashirama as much. His shoulders slumped slightly, but she knew he wasn't surprised.
"There's too much work for me to do here," Sakura said. "I can't leave for any extended length of time yet."
"I know," Hashirama sighed.
"I could.." she trailed off. "I could give them schematics, ideas for a more efficient hospital? Maybe you could use that to work out some kind of more solid alliance?"
Hashirama looked thoughtful.
"Perhaps, perhaps," he said.
"I'm going to have to formally decline the invitation," Sakura said after a moment. "I'll write it up today and bring it over to you tomorrow."
He nodded, looking a little sad. She knew he wanted to form solid friendships with the other nations. She wondered if his and Naruto's positions had been reversed if anything would be different. They were similar in many ways. Sakura put her hands on the arms of her chair and then hesitated. He frowned.
"Something else bothering you?"
"Can you… tell me about senjutsu?"
"Senjutsu?" Hashirama asked with surprise.
Sakura nodded.
"Yes.. I… am interested in it."
He sat back in his chair thoughtfully gazing at her.
"Would you tell me why? Senjutsu is not easy to master, and is very dangerous."
Sakura took a breath and relaxed her arms. She thought about what she should say.
"When I was a girl, I didn't have any idea what being a shinobi really meant. I was annoying."
She gave a wry chuckle and shook her head.
"But I was lucky that the Hokage saw something in me, and put me in Team 7, led by the Legendary Copy-nin, Kakashi Hatake, with Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha."
Hashirama listened to her intently.
"Kakashi - " she paused. "Kakashi was elite. A prodigy. He was in the running for the next Hokage. Sasuke was Itachi's little brother, he was the top of our class, incredibly skilled, and Naruto," she chuckled. "Naruto was the bottom of the class. But, really, that means nothing when you're fighting for your life. Naruto was never going to succeed in the classroom, he learns by doing."
"And you?" Hashirama asked. "Where did you fit in?"
"I was the balance. I scored perfectly academically, but I was lacking in the physical skills. It didn't take long for them to leave me behind, and then a lot of things happened and I was faced with a choice and I chose not to be the weak link."
Hashirama's brow drew together in a crease, and Sakura could see he was beginning to understand what she was saying.
"I reached them in the end. In our last moments, we stood together again as a team, as equals."
"And then you came here," he said slowly.
She nodded.
"We're not a team, really," she said. "But we've been through some things already, and despite what people have said about me, I'm nowhere near the level of you, Tobi or Madara."
"Sakura, that's not true," he said.
"It is," she replied. "You don't need to be kind. All I ever wanted was to stand with them proudly, and I did, however brief it was. But it's different here. I've lost everyone once, and I won't do it again. I need to be stronger, Hashirama. I have to be. So please, tell me about senjutsu and help me walk alongside you, not chase after you."
Hashirama took a deep breath and gave her a small, soft smile.
"The reason I can perform senjutsu is that I have a large amount of chakra. I am not…normal," he said, his frown deep and expression a little amused at himself.
Sakura laughed.
"I know."
He grinned at her, but it fell quickly as he began to speak again.
"I can't teach you what I know, it won't work for you in the same way," he replied. "Was there anyone in your time that was a Sage?"
"Naruto," Sakura answered automatically.
"He was? My word, he must have been a remarkable young shinobi."
"Yes. He was." Will be, she thought. "He learned from his summons, from the toads."
She looked up at Hashirama.
"I should talk to Lady Katsuyu."
"That would be a good place to start. Senjutsu utilizes natural energy, not chakra, and requires precise control. I would guess that you might have an advantage in that regard," he said with a little smile.
"Oh, that reminds me. Do you know where Sasuke is? I wanted to ask something about the academy."
Hashirama pouted.
"You're leaving me all alone in my office to find better company," he mumbled.
"You're not alone," Sakura said with a grin. "You have all that paperwork and your bonsai!"
Hashirama brightened at the mention of his bonsai tree.
"I do! Sasuke should in an office between the tower and academy."
Sakura nodded.
"Thank you!"
She left Hashirama neglecting his paperwork and went off to organise a time to go to the academy for a special class, and find out how it was all going.
"This doesn't feel like a formal greeting at all," Sakura murmured.
Shikaru laughed warmly.
"We're all family here," he replied. "Just relax and enjoy yourself."
The Yamanaka compound was smaller but just as quaint as Sakura had known it to be. Seeing all the blonde hair and blue-eyes gave Sakura a painful ache in her chest, and a desperate longing for Ino's loud laughter and loyal friendship. It was hard to enjoy herself, but she was glad that at least this was not a night she had to pretend, because even if she did, the Yamanaka would figure her out anyway. Reina took her arm.
"Oh, Sakura, I have something to ask you," she said, there was a look of intrigue in her eyes and Sakura almost gulped.
"You do?"
Reina nodded.
"It seems like my son's been out a time or two with your student, Hikari."
Sakura's eyes widened.
"What?"
"Oh," Reina gasped. "You didn't know."
Sakura shook her head.
"Hikari didn't say a word."
Reina grinned.
"How interesting," she said. "Well. She's a good girl, but I don't think it'll work between them," Reina sighed.
"Why?"
Reina looked at her in surprise.
"You really must be more observant, Sakura," she said. "People are fascinating."
"Not everyone has the intuition of a Yamanaka woman." Shikaru cut into their conversation with a smile.
Reina gave him a wicked smile.
"So little Inoyuki's got his eye on Hikari Shimura then?"
"For now," Reina continued to smile. "A little flirtation never hurt anyone. But that boy - I love him, but he could use a bit of heartbreak to make him grow up."
"So could all young men," Shikaru agreed.
Sakura wondered what kind of person Reina truly was. She was hard to figure out, but Sakura had a feeling that she and Shikaru got on scarily well.
"So, have your students started talking again then?" Shikaru asked Sakura.
She frowned.
"How did you know they weren't talking?"
"Shika told me," Shikaru replied. "He complained that they're both using him as a place to vent their issues."
Sakura grinned a little, imagining Shika sighing and wondering what he did to deserve their trust, but wondered why Shika never said anything to her.
"Well, yes, the last few days they have," Sakura replied. "Tobirama brought Hikari into the hospital after training, and I assigned Shouta to be her medic and locked them in a room together until they sorted themselves out."
Reina's hand tightened on Sakura's arm.
"Wonderful," she said, and Sakura began to worry for them both. Reina was plotting something. "You're a creative problem-solver, I like that."
"Thanks?" Sakura said.
She looked at Shikaru for help.
"Reina, I think you'd better just explain whatever it is you're thinking of," Shikaru said.
"You two, wait here," she said, walking off somewhere.
"She's… scary," Sakura settled on.
Shikaru grinned.
"If you think she's scary now, you should have seen her and my wife together when they were bored," he said. "No one was safe from their devilish plans."
Sakura leaned her head on Shikaru's shoulder and sighed tiredly. It had been a long day at the hospital, she'd expended a lot of chakra to perform and aide in several operations, she needed sleep.
"We'll go home soon," Shikaru said quietly to her.
Reina came back with Inoyuki in tow and Sakura looked at him pityingly.
"Sakura, if you don't mind, I'm going to send over my son tomorrow with a gift for you," Reina said.
"A gift?" Sakura asked.
Inoyuki looked resigned and Reina nodded.
"I came into possession of some things you might like in your greenhouses, he's my errand boy."
"Whatever you like," Sakura said. "If I'm not there, Hikari or Shouta will be."
"Great," Reina said brightly.
"Well, I think it's time we go home," Shikaru said.
Reina protested, but Sakura and Shikaru managed to escape her by wrangling Inoyuki and Inorou to their side. With the Yamanaka clan meet over, Sakura had the Hatake, Senju, and Uchiha left, and she breathed a sigh of relief that it was almost over. She said good-bye to Shikaru on the fork in the path that led to his house and her home, and gave a soft smile when she saw a familiar figure leaning on the wall of her house.
"Have you been here long?" She asked.
Madara pushed himself off the wall. The darkness and moonlight, he was close to invisible. But Sakura knew his silhouette. He met her a few steps from the front door and wrapped her in a kiss that surprised Sakura.
"Where have you been?" He murmured, resting his forehead on hers.
"You're cold," she replied. "Sorry. I had dinner with the Yamanaka clan."
She took his hand in hers.
"Come inside and get warm."
"Are you planning to help with that?" He asked cheekily.
"I'll keep you warm if you lend me your shoulder to sleep," she said. "It's been a long day."
They went inside and Madara closed the door behind them. He scooped her up and Sakura squealed lightly in surprise as he cradled her in his arms and walked her to the bedroom.
"Madara, what are you doing?"
He paused and smiled down at her, then kissed the diamond on her forehead.
"You're tired."
"I can still walk," Sakura muttered.
She blushed warmly and wrapped her arms around his neck, nuzzling him lightly. He held her as he pulled back the covers of her bed, then gently laid her in it before crawling in beside her.
"No one would ever believe me if I told them you were like this," Sakura whispered.
"Like what?"
"Romantic," she smiled.
He pulled the covers over her head and she laughed and pushed them down to see him smiling at her.
"Only for you," he said.
"Good."
She wrapped her arms around his middle. She felt him chuckle.
"Go to sleep, love."
His voice was quiet and tender, and she smiled and settled comfortably beside him, not caring about changing her clothes. Sakura closed her eyes and listened to his heart beating, and fell asleep to the strong and steady rhythm.
Sakura called Hikari and Shouta into her office, and they stood waiting while she quickly finished filling out the monthly report for the hospital to give to the Hokage, and then put the scroll with her message to Kumo on top of the files.
"I have to go over to Hokage Tower to speak with the Hokage and Tobirama," she said with a heavy, tired sigh. "I'm sorry to have to push back your lunch breaks, but I need at least one of you to stay here in case of an emergency, and also," she paused. "I'm expecting a visit from Inoyuki Yamanaka."
Hikari's face remained blank, but her cheeks heated. Shouta's jaw clenched. Sakura held in her smile.
"He has a delivery for me from his mother for the greenhouses, I believe."
Shouta nodded.
"I can take care of that."
"Good." Sakura gathered the files and held them to her chest. "I'll be back later. Send a messenger over if there are any problems."
"Yes, Lady Sakura," Hikari nodded.
Sakura left the hospital after quickly communicating with Madoka that she would be going to the academy the next week if he wanted to come with her. He did, and Sakura was glad she'd have some company. She walked briskly from the hospital, greeting the passerby's with a smile, while most of them gave her a little bow. She was never going to get used to that; being treated like she was someone really important. The fact she technically was didn't help her mindset that she was just an ordinary person doing her job for her village.
She reached Hokage Tower to hear the sounds of laughter drifting on the breeze from the academy and she paused for a moment and smiled. She glanced at the second floor at the Hokage's window and thought that he'd be pretty happy hearing those sounds. She walked inside and headed straight for Tobirama first. His door was open and he was standing at the front of his desk, sorting through some files.
"You busy?" Sakura announced herself.
He glanced at her briefly before going back to his papers.
"No," he murmured distractedly. "Just thinking."
"Do you want some help?"
He let out a sigh.
"No. It's fine," he said, standing tall. He glanced at her files. "What are you doing here?"
"Hospital reports for the month," she said. "And my response to Kumo."
Tobirama folded his arms over his chest and looked at her expectantly.
"Obviously, I declined," she said. "I can't leave for that long, and this isn't the Kumo I knew when we were allies."
"Hard to believe all the nations were allied," Tobirama murmured.
She shrugged.
"We had no choice, and we had Naruto."
He set his mouth thoughtfully.
"Is there something you wanted from me?" He asked.
"Oh, yeah," Sakura said. "I was wondering how Hikari was doing?"
He raised an eyebrow.
"Any particular reason why, or just curiosity."
"I'm thinking about the next stage of training," she replied. "We should collaborate to ensure the best results."
He nodded in agreement.
"I want to start working on her ninjutsu."
"We have to be careful not to overload her chakra," Sakura said biting her lip. "Okay. I'll cut two days from her rotations at the hospital for three months. She'll have extra time with you, and more time for studying with me."
"I think you need to have her start going on missions," he said. "She needs triage experience."
Sakura frowned.
"Whose in charge of ANBU?"
"She's not ready for ANBU."
"Of course not," Sakura sighed. "The easiest way for her to get triage experience at the moment is with ANBU during training."
He shook his head.
"No. It's not going to happen. Madara's in charge and Hikari Shimura is not ready for that." He sighed. "There aren't any missions coming up that are likely to end with injuries."
"You say it like it's a bad thing."
She didn't know Madara was in charge of ANBU, then again, it made sense that she wouldn't. ANBU was still in its beginnings and secret.
"Don't put words in my mouth," he said with a slight eye-roll.
"Sorry. Well, I'll organise some exercises to imitate triage and field treatments for her," Sakura said. "So she's doing well then?"
"Of course she is," Tobirama scoffed. "Why else would I be training her?"
Sakura smiled.
"I'm glad," she said. "I have to see Hashirama. Is he in?"
Tobirama nodded.
"Are we going to continue our training sessions? You've been lax."
"We've been busy," Sakura retorted.
He shrugged and Sakura nodded.
"Do you think I could learn the Flying Thunder God?" She asked hesitantly.
He looked at her in surprise.
"First senjustu and now this?" He commented.
Sakura wasn't surprised Hashirama had told him.
"What's going on?"
Sakura gave a little smile and shrug.
"I just want to be like you," she teased. "My hero, Tobirama."
He rolled his eyes again.
"Go away, Saki," he said with a slightly fond tone coming through his exasperation.
She grinned and skipped out of the room, only to run face first into Madara's chest. She fell back a step with an 'oomph' escaping from her lips.
"Hello," Madara said with some amusement.
Sakura blinked.
"Hi," she replied.
"Madara, let's go," Tobirama said, appearing behind her.
She looked between the two of them.
"Where are you going?" She asked them.
"Training," Tobirama said.
"By yourselves?" Sakura asked, eyebrow raised.
"As if he could handle it," Madara scoffed.
Tobirama shot him a glare before turning back to Sakura, who bit her lip with a smile.
"With the Pursuit Unit," he said.
"We'll be back late. Or tomorrow," Madara said. "It's good I ran into you now, I was going to drop by the hospital."
She smiled.
"Well, have fun, I guess," she said. "If anyone gets injured, send them Hikari's way," she said to Tobirama, who nodded.
"See you tomorrow," Madara murmured.
They departed and Sakura watched them go for a moment before she went to knock on Hashirama's door.
"So how's your training with Lord Madara?" Hikari asked Shouta.
He looked up from the scroll Sakura had written on cellular regeneration.
"Good," he replied. "And yours?"
"Hard," she said.
They sat in silence for a moment, and Hikari's fingers drummed across the table. Things had been a little better between them, but they were still not back to the way they were. She stared at Shouta and wondered what he was thinking. He'd been unusually quiet around her and around Lady Sakura for days.
"Tobirama-sensei said he's going to help me develop my own special ninjutsu," she said, trying to fill the silence.
"You're lucky," Shouta commented. "He's a genius."
She nodded.
"I know. I've learned so much already."
"Do you think he'll teach you his Flying Thunder God technique?"
Hikari let out a sigh.
"I hope so," she said. "What about you? Is Lord Madara teaching you anything special?"
He gave her a small smirk.
"The Sharingan is unique to each individual, with differing abilities. Whatever I learn will be unique in some way."
Hikari rolled her eyes.
"You Uchiha are so smug about your precious eyes."
"Why shouldn't we be?" He asked her.
She grinned.
"Well, let's wait and see if you should be when I beat you, even with your Sharingan."
Shouta scoffed, and Hikari felt like they slowly dropping back into their normal flow of conversation, teasing and smiling, and easy, until there was a knock at the door and Inoyuki appeared. Suddenly, she saw Shouta's face close off, and she frowned at him. He looked away from her.
"Am I interrupting?" Inoyuki asked, looking between the two of them.
Shouta simply picked up his scroll and continued reading.
"No," Hikari said, speaking for them both. "We were just taking a break."
He smiled at her and Hikari blushed lightly at the sight of it.
"Lady Sakura said you have something for her?" She asked, clearing her throat.
He nodded.
"Some seeds," he said.
"I'll take them," Shouta said, standing.
He walked over to Inoyuki, took the bag he offered and left without another word. Hikari watched him go in confusion.
"What was that?" Inoyuki asked.
"I haven't got a clue," Hikari said, feeling worried and annoyed.
Inoyuki's face slowly turned into a grin.
"Well, now that we're alone, can I say you look very pretty today."
Hikari blushed deeper, but her mind was still on Shouta and what was bothering him. She wondered if he didn't like Inoyuki.
"Would you like to get some lunch?" He asked.
Hikari shook her head. It was appealing, but she couldn't leave the hospital until Shouta returned, and seeing how he'd gone off without a word and the way his face had looked, she was certain when he'd return. She was sure that he wouldn't just be going to the greenhouses.
"I can't, I'm sorry," she replied.
"Ah, too bad," he sighed. "I had a good time when we got nabe."
"Me too," she smiled.
She had, but they hadn't seen each other much since then. She'd been too tired with Tobirama-sensei ramping up her training. At the end of her days running around the hospital, Hikari had barely had enough energy to get back to her bed, and now Yori was asking if she would collect Danzo from the academy twice a week. Hikari barely had time to see anyone.
"Looked like you and Shouta were talking again," Inoyuki said.
She nodded.
"A little. I think we're getting back to normal," she said. "But he got weird when you came."
Inoyuki frowned, and then his eyes flashed, and Hikari wasn't brave enough to ask whatever it was he seemed to have understood at that moment.
"Did he now?" Inoyuki murmured. Then he smiled brightly at Hikari. "When you get some free time, why don't you come by the flower shop? Maybe you can wipe the stern look off Tobirama's face with a daisy."
Hikari giggled, imagining Tobirama-sensei with a daisy tucked behind his ear. He grinned at her.
"I hope I'll see you soon," he said.
She smiled as he left, but it dropped the moment he was gone. She glanced over at Shouta's empty chair and felt dispirited. All she wanted was for him to be her friend again.
Madara stood before his victorious team on the field of battle, smirking smugly at Tobirama, who looked like he wanted to punch him. How sweet it was to once again be the victor in their little battles.
"Lost again, Tobi," Madara mocked, his hand tight around the pole of the flag.
Tobirama narrowed his eyes.
"Don't get cocky," he spat. "You won't win next time."
"We'll see," Madara chuckled.
With a little incline of Tobirama's head, Madara dropped the flag to the ground and turned to his team: Takuma Senju, Emiko Senju, Haru Sarutobi. On paper, against Tobirama Senju, Yuri Uchiha, Natsuo Sarutobi and Mamorou Inuzuka, they would appear to be the lesser team. But being considered lesser didn't suit Madara, particularly not when Tobirama was the opponent.
"Well done," Madara said to them. They all nodded seriously. "What did you do wrong?"
"I was impatient," Emiko replied immediately. "I left my position to early, allowing Yuri to put me under a genjutsu."
"You wasted time and caused a divergence in the plans," Madara agreed. "In a real battle, you'd be dead."
Emiko nodded. She was an intense and serious shinobi, always trying but her immaturity showed through too often. At least she was able to quickly admit her mistakes, Madara liked that about her, and she rarely made the same mistake twice.
"When possible, we don't leave out comrades behind. But the mission comes first," Madara said firmly. "Despite Emiko's mistake and the risk you took breaking her from the genjutsu, we came out of this victorious. You all showed initiative, displayed solid teamwork and a marked improvement on your skills."
"Thank you, Lord Madara," Takuma murmured.
"This was not only a test of the efficiency of our unit," Madara continued. "This was also a chance for Tobirama and myself to gauge your capabilities."
"For what purpose?" Haru asked.
"ANBU leadership," Madara replied.
None of them responded, and Madara nodded satisfactorily.
"Expect a scroll in a few days time," he said. "Dismissed."
The three of them disappeared, and moments later, Tobirama's team also dispersed, leaving Madara and Tobirama alone in the dark forest.
"I want to talk about Yuri," Madara spoke to Tobirama in the darkness. "I don't want him for ANBU."
"Why?" Tobirama asked as he walked to Madara's side. "He's one of the best."
Madara nodded, and they set off walking to the village.
"He is and I believe his talents are best suited elsewhere."
"And where is that?"
Madara was quiet for a moment.
"Well, for a couple of months at the very least, I suppose he can rotate in and out of ANBU," he said. "I want him as a team leader."
"Genin?"
Madara nodded.
"We need team leaders we can trust. He can be an example for others."
Tobirama was quiet as he thought.
"You're right. He's got the right temperament. It'll interfere with his duties as one of the Jonin Captains."
"Doesn't matter," Madara replied. "He'll make it work."
Although Madara was sure Matsuri would be annoyed with the added workload.
"The Hyuga requested to meet you," Tobirama said suddenly.
"Excuse me?" Madara asked, surprised. "They want to meet with me? For what purpose?"
"I assume to gauge your level of loyalty," Tobirama said.
Madara clenched his jaw in irritation.
"The clans who call the Uchiha cold-hearted have never dealt with the Hyuga," he muttered.
Tobirama chuckled.
"I think that's your own bias," he said.
Madara flashed his red eyes at Tobirama.
"I know you hate that seal as much as I do. My clan could never do something so cruel."
Tobirama's face grew somber.
"No," he said. "I don't believe you could."
Madara hid his surprise at the words. It might have been the nicest thing Tobirama had ever said about his clan before.
"Your chakra is changed," Tobirama said suddenly.
Madara frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Tobirama let out a long breath.
"Surely you understand the fluctuations in the feeling of other people's chakra." Madara nodded. They were both powerful sensors. "Before the alliance, your chakra was dark."
Tobirama hesitated and Madara glanced at him.
"Just spit it out, I grow impatient," he snapped.
"Your chakra was malicious," Tobirama said. "It was easy to find you, you felt the most evil."
Madara narrowed his eyes.
"And now?" He asked through gritted teeth.
"It's as if a heavy cloud has been blown away," Tobirama said. "It's still very much you, but the darkness is simply gone. I noticed it changing in the months when Itachi and Sakura arrived."
Madara's lip twitched slightly.
"It appears there are things you haven't yet put together, you fake genius."
Tobirama glowered.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Madara scoffed.
"As if I'd tell you," he replied. "Figure it out on your own."
He walked on for a moment.
"I believe it has to do with those boys she talks about, her friends, Sasuke and Naruto."
"The reincarnations," Tobirama murmured. "If we hadn't seen them appear from nowhere, do you think we'd have believed them?"
"No," Madara replied shortly. "Not until it was too late."
He didn't want to think about becoming the person Sakura had described to him. It wasn't a pleasant thought. A small smirk spread over Tobirama's face. Madara eyed his expression warily.
"I suppose we have Sakura to thank for your changed chakra and disturbingly good moods."
Madara quirked an eyebrow.
"Jealous?"
Tobirama scoffed.
"Of you and Sakura? Don't make me laugh, she's a brat."
Madara wondered if Tobirama knew that Madara still considered him a brat at time. Tobirama looked around.
"We should fence off this forest," he said thoughtfully. "A training ground."
"Ask Hashirama to make it more menacing," Madara responded.
"Do you think it would be difficult to find giant animals to put in there?" Tobirama asked.
Madara stared at him.
"Sometimes I really question your mental state."
"We could use it as a training ground for the genin and chunin," Tobirama continued.
His voice taking on the tone it did when he had an idea he was excited about.
"If we call it something menacing, it'll make the training experience more intensive and productive."
Madara was quiet a moment.
"The Forest of Death."
This time, Tobirama stared at him.
"You have no creativity whatsoever," he shook his head. "We're stuck with the Village Hidden in the Leaves, which is not at all obvious, and you want to call a scary forest the Forest of Death."
Madara narrowed his eyes.
"Are we going to have a problem?"
"Not if you think of something better."
"If you don't like it, why did you speak of it around me? You and Hashirama are exactly the same."
Madara sighed.
"Why don't we just ask Sakura if there's was a training ground like you want?"
Sakura frowned at the pair standing in front of her desk.
"Yeah," she replied. "I had my chunin exams in Training Ground 44."
She shuddered slightly at the memories of that particularly horrific day.
"But what was it called?" Tobirama asked.
"The Forest of Death."
Sakura didn't know why Tobirama palmed his forehead, or why Madara grinned so openly smug, and she didn't ask. If it was important, she'd find out eventually.