Chapter 28: Mission

Shouta and Sakura fell into a comfortable and quiet rhythm as they walked. Sakura was content to just enjoy the afternoon. The wind was cool, but not as crisp has it had been. Winter was passing quickly in the Land of Fire, giving way to spring. There was more warmth in the air and very faintly, scents of flora long hidden was returning. They travelled north-east, heading towards the north-eastern border of The Land of Fire and the Land of Hot Water, making for the coastal towns closest to the island they were headed too. Night fell, and they made camp in a clearing in the woodlands. Sakura set some simple traps that would alert them to anyone coming close by, while Shouta lit the campfire and prepared some food for them.

"I didn't expect Lord Tobirama to seem so protective over you," Shouta said after they'd finished eating, a small smile and a slightly furrowed brow on his face.

"No?" Sakura asked.

She thought for a moment.

"I guess I didn't think he was like that when I first met him either," she said with a rueful expression.

"Hikari speaks highly of him, even while she complains about him," Shouta said, the hint of a smile on his face.

Sakura smiled.

"I'm looking forward to watching the two of you spar."

Shouta scoffed.

"It's not about the two of us," he answered with irritation. "It's Lord Madara and Lord Tobirama having a contest, we're just their pawns."

Sakura laughed.

"Even if that's true, they would never have chosen either of you if they didn't believe in your abilities."

Shouta twisted his lips.

"I agree," he said with some reluctance. "But it's still irritating."

They slept taking shifts to watch over the camp and set off in the morning with more haste, running at a decent, but not too hard pace, through the trees until they broke for lunch. Sakura quizzed Shouta on his medical knowledge as they went, giving him situations to hear how he would approach them, and helping him find more efficient methods. As they traveled, Sakura made sure to keep a mental picture of the land and people that they passed, trying to situate herself in the time more effectively. There were differences, some larger than others. Small villages that she saw in the distance that didn't exist in her time, changes in the land, roads not yet built. Sakura frowned as they went, feeling both angry and sad. Wars changed a lot. They reached the border just after noon on the third day. The Land of Hot Water wasn't a shinobi country in her time, but it was in these days.

"Let's be on the look out for shinobi," Sakura said as they passed the wooden post on the side of the road stating they were crossing the border. "But don't forget, we're just medics. We should be fine."

"Just medics," Shouta scoffed quietly.

Sakura gave him a grin.

"Yeah. It's not a lie, is it?"

"No," he responded. "It's not, technically."

Sakura hummed happily but kept a watch on the surrounding area as they walked. They were medics, technically or not. It wasn't her fault the rest of the worlds medics were lacking in a lot of the combat training during this era. It was a pity that neither of them was a sensor, however. Sakura's range wasn't as large as she wanted it to be, and Shouta was forbidden to activate his sharingan unless it was a life or death situation. They didn't need to announce his Uchiha identity in a land where the Uchiha were feared, resented and coveted.

After walking an hour within the borders of the Land of Hot Water, they both sensed the shinobi hiding in the trees around them. They walked a little slower, and three of the five hiding appeared in front of them. Sakura and Shouta stopped and she gave them a beaming smile, which they weren't expecting.

"Good afternoon," she greeted them. "We're on our way to Ine. Are we going the right way?" She asked.

The leader of the three paused and looked at her appraisingly. He noticed her shinobi clothes, and the headbands both she and Shouta wore. The other two remained quiet behind him, clearly, they took their cues and orders from him. Shouta stepped a little closer to Sakura.

"You're from that new village," the leader said after a moment. "Konohagakure."

He said the name like it was something that tasted bad in his mouth.

Sakura nodded, ignoring his tone.

"Yes, we are."

"What are you doing in our land?" He asked.

Sakura pulled out the scroll from its place in her obi.

"We're on a mission," she said.

The shinobi immediately became wary.

"We're medic-nin. We're off to Nanakusa Island to collect herbs and plants to develop medicine."

With suspicion in his eyes, he took the scroll she offered. Shouta shifted anxiously beside her, while Sakura stood still and appeared relaxed, but was taking in everything she saw. Hands on weapons, tense shoulders, strained eyes. The leader glanced from the scroll back up to Sakura and then to Shouta before passing the scroll back to them.

"We'll escort you to Ine," he said gruffly.

One of the men scoffed.

"That's not - "

Sakura cut Shouta off.

"Thank you," she said. "We'd appreciate it since we are strangers in your land just passing through."

The leader narrowed his eyes slightly, trying to get her measure.

"I'm Daichi," he said in a gruff voice. "This is Akira and Watashi."

Sakura greeted them all with nods. Shouta didn't move an inch at all.

"And you?" Daichi asked.

"I'm Sakura," she replied. "This is Shouta."

Daichi gave a stiff nod, and then turned slightly and murmured something to his comrades.

"Lady Sakura, why are we allowing this?" Shouta asked quietly.

"A show of good faith," Sakura replied, equally quiet.

Shouta looked dubious but gave a short shrug.

"Come," Daichi said in his gruff tone. "It's a long walk."

Sakura and Shouta exchanged another glance. The one called Akira walked on, and Sakura and Shouta fell into step behind him while Daichi followed them. Watashi disappeared into the trees. Sakura felt the back of her neck crawl, she didn't like having an unknown walking behind them.

"Something wrong?" Daichi asked as she looked back at him.

She smoothed her brow.

"No, of course not," she smiled.

Daichi snorted but didn't say anything else. The next two hours were quiet and tense. Sakura's sensed were strained toward Daichi, who silently followed them. Akira never looked back, which was good, since Shouta had activated his Sharingan until she hit his arm and made him stop it. During the walk, Sakura tried to break some of the tension by asking questions, but neither of the shinobi wanted to answer her with more than a single word. She gave up quickly. Shouta suddenly paused and Sakura looked at him in concern.

"Are you okay, Shouta?"

He was staring ahead, a look of awe on his face.

"I - I've never seen the sea before," he breathed.

Sakura turned her gaze to the vast expanse of blue water on the horizon and gave Shouta a small smile, tinged with sadness. She remembered feeling similar on her first mission to Wave, not that she had time to think about it too much back then.

"It's a little bigger than the Naka River," she said wistfully.

He gave a slow nod, his eye wider than she'd ever seen them before. She put a hand on his arm and glanced back at Daichi who was watching them with narrowed eyes.

"Come on," she said quietly, sorry she couldn't give him more time to take in the view. "We're almost there."

When they reached the edge of town, Daichi stopped them, questioning if they had a prearranged boat to take them to the island.

"No," Sakura replied. "We were planning to go to the docks and ask around."

Akira gave a slight snort indicating that he didn't believe them, and Daichi's ever-preset frown deepened.

"Thank you for brining us all this way," she said. "We'll be fine from here."

Daichi's eyebrow twitched.

"How could we allow two strangers to wander around without aid?" Akira drawled. "Who knows what might happen."

The tension between them rose.

"Indeed," Shouta grumbled. Sakura shot him a look. "We might run into trouble in a back alley, or fall in a ditch." He went on, ignoring her.

Sakura held in her sigh. Shouta was impatient and it was making Daichi and Akira suspicious of them. Before Shouta said anything more, she turned to Daichi.

"Well, I appreciate good hosts as much as the next person," she said pleasantly. "If it's not too much trouble, we'd appreciate any help you can give us on securing a vessel."

Daichi looked back to her from Shouta and nodded.

"Follow us. We'll take you to the docks."

Daichi and Akira led them through town to the docks. Daichi sent Akira off to find them a boat and stood with them, hand resting on his sword hilt.

"Medics, huh," Daichi murmured, looking at the two of them.

"What other reason could we have to go to Nanakusa Island?" Shouta replied dryly. "Even someone like you must know it's famed for its medicinal ingredients."

"Someone like me?" Daichi asked sharply, his hand tightening on the sword hilt.

"Shouta, apologise," Sakura said firmly. "That was unkind."

Shouta stared at her in disbelief, but Sakura leveled a look that threatened pain, oh so intense pain, until he buckled under the pressure and muttered and apology to Daichi. Daichi turned away with an ugly look on his face.

"You shinobi from the big countries always look down on people like me," he said. "You'll regret it."

Sakura narrowed her eyes slightly, her facade of friendliness falling.

"Is that a threat?" She asked.

Daichi turned to look down at her.

"Don't flatter yourself, pinky. If I was going to threaten someone it'd be someone a lot more intimidating than you."

Shouta burst out laughing before biting it back. Sakura smiled at Daichi.

"Let's hope you're right," she said, murder screaming at him from her eyes.

He turned away with a disgruntled expression as Akira came back and informed them of the fisherman who'd take them out in the morning. The Hot Water shinobi led them to an inn and took up residence in the dining area on the bottom floor. When Sakura and Shouta were in their room, finally alone, Shouta let out a long sigh of irritation.

"Shouta, I understand your frustration, but it's not worth letting it affect you this much," Sakura said with a sigh.

She turned and shut the window, and sealed closed for good measure. Shouta gave her a tired look.

"We're not here to cause any unnecessary conflict with people we have no cause to fight with," she said in a firmer voice. "The Hokage's orders are to try and foster good relations where we can. So if that means having an escort, so be it. Just be on guard."

"Sounds exhausting," Shouta muttered.

She gave a wry smile.

"Better exhausted than dead."

Sakura and Shouta reached the island without trouble. They were seen off by the two shinobi who promised with sly smiles to be waiting for their return in four days time. They spent the first two days gathering plants, herbs, and samples. They cataloged what was on the island, and everything was peaceful. Shouta spent a lot of his free time standing at the edge of the ocean, staring out and being amazed by it, and the pureness of that action tugged at Sakura. She couldn't remember the last time she felt something like that.

The mission had gone smoothly so far, despite the tense atmosphere between them and the Hot Water shinobi. Still, Sakura a sense of unease. It wasn't that she wanted things to go badly, but a lot of the missions she'd been on hadn't gone so well. The last time she'd been to the island was before the war, and they'd had a scuffle with some shinobi from a smaller country. But in this time, the island's resources were prolific and there was no one else around.

It was peaceful, and a nice change from the busy and bustle of the village. The air was cool and crisp, the wind bit at her skin, but she didn't mind because it smelled of sea and salt. She could only hear the trees and the waves. The quiet was nice, but it brought back the opportunity for her thoughts to linger on her own sadness. Death was strange. She had waves of intense sadness and longing for Itachi, and at other times she felt a kind of peace. Absent from her time-consuming work at the hospital, from Madara, she began to remember things she'd kept hidden away and when she slept she couldn't control her thoughts, and when she fell asleep, her dream was a nightmare.

She felt black hands wrapping around her neck, and her legs shook with weakness as her chakra drained. The Nine-Tails roared in the distance, and Madara fell unconscious behind Zetsu. She clawed at his hands squeezing her neck, but she couldn't get him off her.

"A foolish brat," Zetsu mocked.

Suddenly, he was stabbed through with a golden sword and she gasped painfully as he released her, falling away from him as Zetsu was sealed away and Itachi descended from his Susanoo as it dissipated in a fading red glow.

"Itachi," she coughed.

He smiled at her, that closed eye, tilted head kind of smile she loved. Then, with a blink, in a scene so familiar to her, he was gone with the swipe of a claw and Sakura screamed and cried out his name. Her anguish mixed with the rage of the Nine-Tails and whole world shook around her.

"Sakura."

Someone called her name but she could barely hear it.

"Sakura!"

She looked around and the world seemed to tilt.

"Lady Sakura!"

She opened her eyes and saw Shouta looking at her with a concerned frown, his hand was on her shoulder.

"Lady Sakura, are you all right?" He asked.

"Sh-shouta," she said. She sniffed and realised she was crying. "Sorry."

He sat back.

"Why are you apologising?"

He sounded disapproving.

"You had a nightmare."

She clenched her jaw and sat up.

"I didn't mean to wake you," she said, wiping her eyes.

He shrugged.

"I wasn't asleep."

He moved back over to his bed in the tent. Through the darkness, she could feel him looking at her and she sighed lightly and laid back in her bed, pulling her blankets over her. She lay on her back and stared at the canvas sealing. She heard some shuffling and Shouta lay back as well.

"Was I talking?" She asked.

"Yes," he said after a moment.

He laid back as well.

"You called for Itachi."

She breathed deeply and a tear rolled from her eye down the side of her face.

"I haven't had a nightmare in a long time," she said quietly.

"Neither have I," he replied.

They were quiet for a little while. Sakura listened to the wind and the waves, and she drifted back into memories of the past, ones that she'd not thought about for a while. Ever since the day the academy opened, she'd been feeling a deepening sense of vulnerability. The quiet of the island was making her feel exposed.

"Lady Sakura." Shouta's voice was quiet and hesitant.

"Yes?"

There was a pause.

"I don't have any real family," he said, surprising her. "I stay with my mother's cousins, but they could care less about me. Only since becoming your student have they paid me much attention."

Sakura turned her head, but all she saw was darkness. It wasn't easy to see anything much under the cover of the tent. She stayed quiet and let him speak. He seemed to hesitate.

"I heard about you when you and Itachi first arrived. Sakura Haruno and Itachi Uchiha."

Sakura clenched her jaw for a moment.

"And I saw you both the night of the festival. The Uchiha is a strongly bonded clan. Lord Madara would never adopt a stranger into our clan."

Sakura swallowed, hearing both the question and statement in his voice.

"No," she said slowly. "He would not."

"Despite the discontent in the clan, the swift acceptance of Lord Madara's declaration that Itachi was an Uchiha by his brother, and Lady Matsuri…" Shouta trailed off.

"Shouta, is there something you want to ask me?" Sakura questioned.

The silence made her heart race with questions and anxieties. Shouta, who she knew had speculated in is private thoughts, was suspecting her of not being entirely honest, had never pushed or prodded at her. But he'd called her Haruno, and he was looking for some kind of confirmation of his thoughts about Itachi's true heritage. He let out a breath.

"Do you … trust me?" He asked, surprising Sakura.

It wasn't the question she was expecting.

"Yes, Shouta. I do trust you."

"Hn."

Shouta grunted in a way that sounded a little like relief and approval.

"I am content with my theories confirmed that there was more to you and Itachi than it seemed. I won't ask any more about it. Lady Sakura, I - " he swallowed. "Lady Sakura, I want you to know that I will follow you, even into the depths of an inferno."

"Shouta - "

"No." He cut her off. "This is not something you can deny or laugh away. I swear, no matter who you are or what your secrets are, you can depend on me. I won't let you down."

Sakura bit back tears at the sincerity and determination in his voice.

"Okay," she breathed. "Thank you, Shouta."

"Good night," he said gruffly, turning over.

Sakura smiled slightly into the darkness.

"Good night," she replied.

She closed her eyes again and drifted into restless dreams.

There was a different atmosphere between Sakura and Shouta during the following day. Some barrier that had been threatening to fall had crumbled after Shouta's declaration. Somehow Sakura felt like there was more softness between them and their student-teacher relationship. It was good, she decided. Both he and Hikari were too old to remain as just students to her, and she felt too young to take on that kind of a role forever. They were colleagues, friends, and she knew that their graduation from her constant supervision was less than a year away. As much as she valued their loyalty, she wanted them to forge their own paths.

Throughout the day, Sakura spent time imparting her knowledge of medicinal herbs to Shouta. He soaked in the knowledge, questioned her about different uses, different mixtures and she felt secure knowing he was going to be someone who continued to push boundaries in the field. While Hikari entered the combat forces as a shinobi with medic training, Shouta would remain as a medic with combat training, swinging in and out of the combat teams when necessary. She felt a surge of pride thinking about what they could be capable of, as well as a sliver of worry about them. The day passed pleasantly, and by sun down they were finished and packing everything ready for departure in the morning. They ate and spoke quietly about the affairs of the village. Shouta related stories about Shikata to Sakura.

"I'm glad you two get along," she commented.

Shouta shrugged.

"He's easy to understand."

Sakura chuckled.

"Maybe for you. The two of you are probably just well-matched."

"It's likely," Shouta replied. "Hikari can be too boisterous for him at times."

"And for you?" Sakura asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I am used to her," he said flippantly.

She didn't miss the way he looked away slightly embarrassed. She didn't press him further about it, but she smiled to herself, wishing she had Ino to talk to about love and dreams and reminisce about the days they dreamed of nothing more than getting Sasuke to look at them. She missed the innocence. That night, Sakura dreamed again of Itachi dying before her eyes but was shocked awake at seeing Madara ripped away from her, thrown into a darkness she couldn't find her way through. She put her face in her hands and cried softly, wondering when she'd be free of her horrible dreams, and wishing desperately for the warm and comforting embrace that Madara gave her.

Shouta listened to the quiet sobbing of Sakura as he pretended to sleep with mixed emotion. He felt sorrow for her, and uncertainty of what to do. She cried out in her sleep, cries of anguish for the man called Itachi, and then once more for Lord Madara. He clenched his jaw but made certain not to betray that he was awake. Shouta didn't know what being in love was really like. He felt for Hikari, more than he wanted, but that wasn't the same as sharing a life with her like Sakura seemed to have experienced. He had heard that the way Itachi died was horrible; before Sakura's own eyes, and that she hadn't been able to save him. Lady Sakura, the most amazing medic he'd ever witnessed, unable to save the one she loved. He couldn't imagine the way he'd react if he'd witnessed the same thing, but he guessed nightmares would be standard. It only reinforced his belief that he didn't need to fall in love. He would just have to forget about his feelings for Hikari, and live the way he always had been; keeping a firm and unbreakable wall between him and the world. He didn't want to end up hurting like Lady Sakura, not now, not ever.

Shouta sighed in disgust.

"It stinks," he muttered. "And those two are back."

Sakura leaned thanked the fisherman for taking them and paid him before she turned to see where Shouta was looking. He was right, it smelt of rank fish and seaweed, and Daichi and Akira were standing at the end of the dock. Akira lifted his hand and waved once, and Sakura could feel the mocking of the action from thirty feet away. She let out a huff of annoyance. She hadn't slept well, and couldn't be bothered dealing with them when all she wanted was to get back home.

"Come on," she murmured. "Let's just get this over with."

She jostled her pack into a more comfortable position on her back and walked up to the ninja waiting for them. There were no smiles on her face this time, and the pair noticed it.

"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed," Akira mocked.

He looked to Shouta.

"Didn't satisfy your lady well enough, kid?"

Shouta bristled and Sakura felt anger run trough her veins.

"That's enough, Akira," Daichi said with a glare.

Akira backed off with an indifferent shrug and a leering wink at Sakura.

"We'll be out of your lands by sun down," Sakura said to Daichi. "If you want to delay us, I promise you it will end badly."

Daichi's eyebrow twitched.

"You threatening us, girl?" Akira laughed.

Sakura squared a level gaze at Akira.

"Yes," she said firmly. "I am."

The silence that fell between them all was heavy, and Sakura thought that one wrong word would result in a fight. With their full packs, she didn't want to risk that. Destroying the samples was not an option. Next time they went to the island, they'd be traveling via the Uzumaki, she decided instantly. Akira's eyes were narrowed dangerously at her, and his hands were tight around his sword. Daichi and Shouta were having their own stand off, and Sakura wondered if she should just summon Tobirama to deal with this quicker than she could, but then again, he'd be likely to beat her up for doing something like that too. Shouta sighed heavily.

"This is pointless," he said with irritation. "All we want is to go back to Konoha. Are you planning on keeping us here?"

"Keeping, killing, what's the difference?" Akira shrugged menacingly.

This time, Sakura gave her most poisonous smile.

"That's not a good idea, Akira," she said, singing his name mockingly. "You don't know who I am, do you?"

Daichi turned to her, glancing down at her. She saw his mind turning, but there was no recognition.

"Who are you?" He asked, curiosity and caution in his voice.

"Lady Sakura Nara," Sakura replied. "Head Medic of Konohagakure. If we don't return, the Nara, Senju, and Uchiha will descend on his country, and you will not survive."

She bared her teeth slightly in anger.

"So don't presume that because we're medics we're unprotected."

There was a moment of silence before a smile spread over Daichi's face and he laughed. Shouta and Sakura looked at each other in confusion and even Akira was surprised by his friend's actions.

"Is something funny?" Shouta questioned him.

"You Land of Fire shinobi are so arrogant."

His laughter died and his eyes sharpened dangerously at Sakura, who immediately tensed.

"You think that one little shinobi can't be replaced? That's the nature of our world, war, and more war."

"It doesn't have to be that way, and in our country, that way of life is over," Sakura responded instantly.

Daichi scoffed.

"Uchiha. Senju. Two clans with a history of tyranny over the weak and bad blood between them so deep they'll be wading through it forever."

Sakura and Shouta bristled at his words.

"They made a little girl like you Head Medic? Desperate times, I guess."

Sakura had heard enough. Damn the consequences. She didn't care about their insults towards her, she cared they insulted her friends, her village, her land. Hashirama and Madara and all the work they'd done. Sakura's hand curled into a fist, and Shouta took a small step back.

"Oh, looks like you made her mad," Akira laughed.

Sakura flashed her eyes to him, and then with a speed, he couldn't stop, she punched him. Her fist colliding powerfully with his gut, sending him flying backward in a rush of air. Daichi drew his sword and Sakura caught it in her hand around the blade, snapping it with the force of her grip. Pain shot through her hand as the blade sliced her and parts of it broke off in her palm and blood dripped down her hand. Daichi looked at her with some kind of horror as she opened her hand, the pieces of his blade fell to the ground mixed with blood, and her hand glowed green briefly as her wounds healed quickly before their eyes.

"Something else to say?" She asked him.

Daichi sneered at her.

"You'll regret this, Nara."

Sakura smiled, her heart fluttering lightly at the sound of her new family name being used.

"I don't think so. You should get your friend to a medic before he suffers too much internal damage," she said. "I hope there's a good one around here. If not, you're welcome to travel to Konoha. We don't discriminate against our patients."

Daichi gave them both one last look before he ran off to Akira. Sakura let out a little sigh.

"Feeling better?" Shouta asked her with a little amusement.

"No," Sakura replied, wincing at the realization of what her actions meant. "Hashirama's going to kill me, and so's Shikaru."

Sakura and Shouta were followed at a distance by several unknown shinobi until they reached the border. An intimidation tactic, Sakura surmised, or an assurance that they wouldn't make any detours. Four days later, Sakura and Shouta returned to Konohagakure, their mission complete. They had mapped several locations of wild plants on their way back to Konoha. They checked in at the gate with the guards and headed straight to the hospital to drop off what they'd brought back in Sakura's office.

Hikari greeted them both with hugs, and Sakura saw with some concern the way that Shouta flinched away from her, but Hikari seemed not to notice it. The pained expression he wore for just a second before he wiped his face free from emotion made Sakura feel uneasy. Finally freed from their heavy packs, the pair headed to Hokage Tower to report to the Hokage. They took a leisurely walk through the center of the village, and Sakura was glad to be surrounded by the noise again.

"Ah, Sakura!"

Sakura turned at the sound of her name being called and waved happily when she saw it was Asami.

"You're back," Asami said with a smile. "How was the mission?"

"Successful," she replied. "How are you doing?"

Her smile faltered.

"I've been well," she responded. "What about you?" She asked, peering at Sakura.

Sakura gave her a wry smile.

"The same, I think."

"On that day," Asami said, reaching out to grip Sakura's hand. "On the day, will you meet me before?"

Sakura squeezed her hand.

"Okay," she said. "Let's talk tomorrow."

Asami nodded to her and then gave Shouta a small smile before she let them both go. Sakura walked quietly the rest of the way to Hokage Tower, Shouta fell in step equally quiet beside her. They were greeted in the lobby of the Tower by Tobirama, who frowned when he saw Sakura's face. He didn't ask any questions and only relayed that Hashirama was waiting for them.

"Are you all right?" Shouta asked her quietly.

"Yes," she replied softly. "I'm fine."

But she was beginning to feel like maybe she wasn't. The meeting with Hashirama was short. He disapproved of her actions towards the shinobi and demanded a full report of the mission on his desk by the morning. He ordered them to go home and rest until then, which Sakura was happy to do. She and Shouta parted ways at the doorway to Hokage Tower, and Sakura let out a big sigh. From the corner of her eye, she saw an unmistakeable mass of black hair, and suddenly panicked and flickered away from him. At the doorstep to her home, Sakura frowned, clutching at her chest, wondering what on earth she'd just done.

Madara blinked, and then she was gone.

"How odd," Shikaru murmured, staring at the place Sakura had been standing.

"Indeed," Sasuke said, glancing at Madara.

Madara frowned, questioning whether he should go after her or not. The panicked look on her face was confusing. He hadn't seen her in weeks, and a flash of doubt ran through him. Had she… gone off him while she'd been away?

"I thought Lady Sakura was on a mission," Sasuke said.

"She was," Madara replied. "I would assume she just returned."

She had definitely seen him. His frown deepened.

"Well."

Shikaru put his hand on Madara's shoulder, and Madara resisted the urge to scowl at him.

"Let's continue. Sakura is likely tired and has gone home. We can see her later."

"You might, I doubt I will," Sasuke laughed cheerfully. "Although Hiruzen has been asking about her. He thinks she's interesting."

"Really?" Shikaru asked conversationally. "Sakura's a big hit with the kids around the village."

Sasuke nodded, and Madara followed them into the tower, distracted by thoughts of Sakura.

"Even Yori's son is obsessed with her," Sasuke commented. "He keeps running into my office and asking when she's going to come to teach at the academy."

"Probably not for a while," Shikaru said. "I believe she'll be a little… distracted for the next few weeks."

"Why?" Sasuke asked.

"Because it's the anniversary of the death of Itachi and my brother next week," Madara replied. "Time has passed far quicker for us than her."

"Ah," Sasuke said solemnly. "I hadn't realised it was so soon. Will there be some kind of service for the village?"

"No," Madara said firmly. "But those who wish to pay their respects may do so. The Uchiha will welcome them to our land that day."

Shikaru and Sasuke shared a glance and they all continued on their way, while Madara thought that perhaps Sakura's reaction had something to do with the anniversary. An overwhelming need to see her gripped him. He paused, and Shikaru met his eyes.

"The meeting's not that important," he said. "I'll fill you in. See that my daughter is okay."

Madara nodded gratefully, glad that the perceptive old man wasn't in a teasing mood.

"I wish I could say 'young love' but we're the same age," Sasuke said with a soft smirk.

Madara rolled his eyes.

"Don't forget to push Tobirama for the funding, and make sure he doesn't try and adjust the plans."

"We know," Shikaru said, waving him off dismissively.

"Give Sakura my love," Sasuke sang to him.

Madara looked back at him in disgust and Sasuke grinned.

Sakura sunk deep into her bath, breathing deeply in the scents of the flowers and oils in the water, and letting herself feel comfort by the heat of the water. Guilt surged through her as she thought about how she'd reacted when saw Madara after weeks apart. With a clearer head, she thought it had more to do with the nightmares she'd been having, and Asami's comments bringing her into a low spirited state. Itachi had been on her mind almost constantly to the near exclusion of Madara, and she felt guilty about it. Seeing Asami had forced her to realise that she'd barely thought about Izuna either.

Sakura blew bubbles in the water, barely reacting when she felt the seals deactivate in her home. There were only two people who could do that, and she was sure it was Madara who'd let himself in, not Shikata. She kept her eyes on the door, her heartbeat rising as she listened to the purposefully heavier than normal footsteps through her home as he looked for her. There was a soft knock at the door before it opened, and Madara stood there. Sakura averted her eyes, keeping her mouth under the water and breathing through her nose.

"Welcome home," Madara said softly, making no move to enter the room.

Sakura peeked over at him. He gave a sigh.

"This isn't exactly the reunion I was expecting after weeks apart."

Sakura sunk deeper into the water, her eyes stinging slightly with unshed tears. She could feel Madara's eyes boring into her.

"If you don't want to talk, that's fine," he said softly. "We won't talk."

He stepped into the room and closed the door behind him, before slipping his hands down to his waist and undoing his obi. Sakura's eyes widened slightly in surprise before she blushed and looked away again. Madara undressed slowly until he stood before the bath completely naked and his hair tied up. She shifted slightly to make room for him and he lowered himself inside, sitting across from her. He let out a sigh of contentment at the temperature of the water.

"Come here," he said quietly.

Sakura hesitated a moment before she turned in a tight circle and had her back facing him. She felt his arms reach around her and pulled her back against him gently. Wrapped in his embrace, Sakura felt some of her anxiety assuage. She squeezed her eyes shut a moment.

"My Sakura," Madara whispered in her ear, his breath tickling her and sending goosebumps down her entire body. "My dearest Sakura, won't you tell me what's bothering you?"

She shook her head.

"I can't," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I can't."

He was the one person she couldn't burden with her thoughts. Not these ones. He shifted behind her and hugged her more tightly to him.

"Sakura, I am under no illusions. I know that I share your heart with another," Madara said. Sakura froze. "Do not be afraid to tell me things that are hard to hear," he whispered.

Sakura clenched her jaw.

"What are you?" She muttered, sniffing a little. "A Yamanaka in disguise?"

She felt and heard his chuckle. Sakura relaxed a little, leaning into him. There was nothing she could hide from Madara, he knew her too well. She closed her eyes.

"I think I've been too happy, and now I'm being reminded that I have no right to be," she whispered lowly. "All I think about is myself."

Madara's grip loosened slightly, and Sakura felt a rush of cool water where his warmth had been and cringed.

"Sakura, you're a fool."

Sakura twitched in surprised before she let out a low, cheerless laugh.

"I suppose I am," she said flatly.

Madara let out a heavy sigh.

"You are irritating me."

She frowned deeply, leaned away from him and turned to stare at him.

"What?"

Madara matched her stare.

"You need to stop pitying yourself and think clearly. Too often you allow your mind to become muddled with incoherent and vague thoughts and it makes you overthink."

Sakura felt a rush of reactive anger and clenched her fists in the water. Madara noticed.

"Fight me, if that's what you want," he said, almost challenging her. "Get whatever it is inside you out."

Sakura clenched her jaw and looked away.

"Get out of my bath," she said quietly. "And my house."

"I'll get out of your bath," Madara said. "But I won't leave this house unless you force me."

Sakura trembled with outrage as Madara calmly and slowly stood naked outside her bathtub and stared at her. Slowly she stood and tried to reach for her robe, but Madara took it and dropped it on the floor. She stared at it for a moment. Was he really trying to make her fight? Water dripped from both their bodies onto the floor. He folded his arms over his chest and shifted so he stood directly in front of the door so she couldn't leave without forcing him to move. If that was what he wanted, that was what he was going to get. Sakura flexed her fingers and lashed out. Madara caught her fist in his hand, his sharingan active, but he was forced back until his back was to the wall.

"You almost broke my hand," he said with a strange smile.

Sakura glared.

"Get out," she said with a wavering voice.

"No," he replied.

Sakura grit her teeth. She could hardly believe that they were standing naked and dripping wet in her bathroom and fighting. She might have laughed if she wasn't furious. She pulled back her fist and aimed a punch directly to his chin. Instead of trying to step out and away from the wall, Madara merely leaned his head to the side as he stepped into her space, wrapped a hand around her slick back and caught her wrist in his hand.

"Let me go."

She tugged her hand, but he refused to let her go.

"I will use my chakra if you don't let me go," she warned him.

But her heart was beginning to pound at the feeling of their bodies pressed together and the growing hardness she could feel. Madara leaned his head down to her ear.

"No," he breathed. "Use it. Do whatever you want."

She couldn't move and shivered when she felt his teeth nip at her ear.

"But know that I'm still going to have my way with you even if all my bones are broken."

Sakura ripped her hand from his grip, but as soon as she did, he spun the both of them around, switching their positions, so that Sakura's back was pressed against the wall and he loomed over her, pressing into her and trapping her with his seductive eyes.

"I hate you," she breathed.

He smirked, his hands gripped her hips tight enough to leave a bruise before he leaned back and roughly spun her around so that her back was to him and her front was pressed to the wall. He moved his hands up her body and cupped her breasts, massaging and fondling them hard. She gasped at his touch.

"Too short," he muttered.

Sakura frowned momentarily until Madara's hand gripped her hips and lifted her.

"Wrap your legs around me and get your feet behind my knees," he ordered gruffly.

Sakura did. It was a little uncomfortable and unorthodox, but the pleasure of his hands on her breasts, squeezing and flicking her nipples made her quickly forget it. Madara rubbed his hard cock against her ass, and slipped in between her cheeks, moving her up and down with his hand on her hips. In a moment of instinct, Sakura sent the chakra to her fingers and made holes in the wall in front of her to grip better and Madara chuckled a little. Sakura felt the pressure build within her quicker than she realised it would.

"Madara, please," she pleaded lowly.

She turned her head to look at his flushed face. Their eyes met and Madara lifted her hips, holding her with one arm as he guided himself to her opening. Sakura strained her neck to keep eye contact as he slowly lowered her and entered her. Both of them gasping as he did. Madara let out a guttural growl and thrusted into her, pushing and pulling her hips to him.

"Arch your back," he demanded.

Sakura did and felt the pleasure intensify to the point where she came only a few moments later. But Madara didn't stop. She gripped the wall tighter as his hand snaked around her front and he rubbed her as he thrust. She cried out in pleasure.

"Again, Sakura," Madara growled. "Come for me again."

She did. Her legs ached but she kept them tight around him until he suddenly picked her up and she understood. Without her feet touching the ground, together they turned her skilfully until she was wrapped around him again and he entered her while his mouth attacked her breasts, sucking and biting with fervor and needs and desire that made her want to scream.

"I missed you," he breathed into her neck.

Sakura pulled his head back by his ear and crashed their lips together. Madara groaned into her mouth and they panted as they moved together, and moments later, Sakura for a third time, came a few seconds before Madara did. Sakura hugged him tightly with her arms and legs, her heart pounding, as he leaned against the wall with one hand and hugged her against him with the other, his head buried in the curve of her neck and their bodies trembling together with orgasm.

"I missed you too," Sakura whispered, tears pricking at her eyes.

"Sakura," Madara said in a strained voice. "I can't breathe."

"Oops!"

Sakura loosened her grip and pulled her head back to look at him. They smiled small smiles together until hers dropped and she looked at him with some sadness.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

He gave her a gentle kiss.

"You don't have to apologise, Sakura," he said. "It's as I said, I know you will always love him. But don't forget what we have, and what we can be now," he whispered. "I love you, Sakura, so deeply I feel an inferno burning inside me."

Sakura felt a tear leak from her eye and she leaned her forehead against his.

"I love you too," she breathed.

They stayed like that for a few seconds longer until Madara looked back behind him and then at her.

"How about another bath?" He asked.

Sakura smiled, nodded and let him carry her there.

"I'm still a little mad at you," she said, pouting slightly.

He chuckled.

"Let's talk about that later. For now," he tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. "Let's just enjoy this moment."