A/N: I got a lot of reviews from people who were curious to see Gin's interaction with the old Rookie 9 so I'm actually playing around with them a lot more than I had previously intended. With that being said, this chapter is mostly character development.

The Hour of Rediscovery

Go ask those better than yourself.
Go ask the living. Ask the dead.

-Betti Alver, Stellar Hour

"Your chest wound is almost completely healed," Sakura said with some amount of satisfaction, her voice entirely professional. "How has your arm been?"

They were in a borrowed room in the hospital, and Gin was still smirking. The doctors and nurses had quickly cleared out of the way upon seeing the pink-haired medic. "You've got quite th' reputation huh?" He had jibed smugly, wondering if the medics were gaping out of shock at seeing one of their best medic-nin back in the building, or if it was merely the get-out-of-my-way-or-die expression plastered on Sakura's face.

The kunoichi had been a bit embarrassed by all the attention and it only worsened when she had to ask for directions. She had known the old Konoha hospital down to the very last crumb in the corner. But, she hadn't been inthe new hospital yet, and though there were similarities, not everything was in the place she remembered.

"All things considered, you've strapped it so tightly t' my side that I dunno if it's even there or not."

"Good, then let's see what your range of motion is at the moment." She undid the bandages, gently casting them to the side as she slowly and carefully stretched his arm in front of him. Gin watched casually as she moved it from one side to the next in a deliberate circle. "Nothing hurts?"

He shook his head, "It hurts, but there ain't nothin' to do 'bout it."

Sakura sighed, temporarily halting the motion, and placed her hand on his shoulder, closing her eyes in the process. She felt their chakra collide in a swirling motion of green light, but Sakura forced his to give way. Everything was healing, she saw, and healing rather well, but the damage was still extensive. An arm that had been ripped away was much more difficult to stitch together than one that had been cut. He'll probably never have full range of motion, now.

Wasn't there something she could do?

Sakura frowned, opening her eyes, and turned her gaze to Gin, "We're going to start doing daily therapy."

"I don't think ya want inside my mind."

"For your arm, you idiot!" She released him and he gently tucked the wounded appendage back at his side, refusing to show any signs of pain. Sakura's features softened, "I want you to be able to use it again."

He shrugged, glancing away, "Doesn't matter. I can jus' use the other one."

"Well, we're still going to try."

Gin didn't argue; he was too busy observing the white walls and the white linens. Everything is white. Like the snow from that dream. Clean and pure, as it should be in a place of healing.

Sakura wasn't paying attention; she was scrambling in her medical bag, looking for a salve to apply to his arm, while mumbling under her breath, "You would think that I'd been gone a decade with all the attention. I'm not Tsunade-sama. I didn't just disappear!"

"How long were you gone?" Gin asked, interrupting her monologue.

"Well," Sakura said, thoughtfully, "it's only been two years on official records. But the war lasted for a while and I wasn't here—in Konoha—I was on the front lines. It may be four years since any of them have seen me. The younger ones especially."

Upon hearing her use of the word young, Gin laughed, "What? Ya think you're old? That because you've lived through a war that you're some kind of relic of ancient wisdom?"

Sakura tried not to bristle, even though his comment stung, "I'm not a child anymore. And it's not like you look much older than me."

At this, Gin's fox-like grin spread into a thin tantalizing smile, "Oh, but how looks can be deceivin'."

"How old are you then?"

"Dunno anymore. One hundred somethin'."

"What?" Sakura squeaked, failing to conceal her surprise, "That's not possible!"

The slits of his eyes deepened into amusement, "Course it is—where I come from."

She remembered, then, that he had mentioned having lived over a hundred years in Soul Society in a previous conversation. At the time, she had been trying to digest just what this Soul Society was—or if it even existed. Whatever he had said about his age had been entirely inconsequential. However, now that she believed him, the thought of someone living for hundreds of years—human or not—who wasn't doing some kind of forbidden jiujutsu, seemed surreal.

"Why would anyone want to live that long?" Sakura mused aloud, thinking briefly of Madara and Orochimaru—two ninja who had gone beyond the normal parameters of acceptable behavior in order to extend their longevity— and wondering briefly what she would do if she were to live over a hundred years without even showing her age. Tsunade would love it.

Gin gave her a serious, disconcerting look, "If you were given a few centuries t' study medicine and the way it interacts with your chakra, think of th' lives you'd save."

She shrugged, clearly contemplating it.

"For Shinigami, it can take hundreds of years just t' gain mastery of one's own powers. Humans merely find fragments of themselves throughout a century—sometimes less—and then die off without ever knowin' the extent of their own limits."

"What about all the lives that I wouldn't save on the way to finding the answers?"

Gin opened his eyes a crack so that the blue of them seemed to melt the room, "Ya can't save everyone. And if ya worry 'bout that, the only person who will need savin' in the end will be you."

Sakura turned away, once again busying herself in her pack to prevent Gin from seeing the look of dismay on her face. He was right, of course. When he was being serious, Sakura found that Gin often parted with wise words. Words he seemingly amassed for those special moments when he deemed them necessary.

And then a thought dawned on her; Gin only shared when he thought it was relevant. Most of the time he was obnoxiously sarcastic and nearly impossible to read. But when he was being serious, he seemed to draw from experience—from something in his own past.

She forced herself to stop her idle searching through the bag and gave him a pointed look, "Is that what happened to you then? You cared so much about saving someone that in the end it killed you?"

Surprisingly, Gin didn't shut his eyes in to those thin taunting lines; he didn't conceal himself in a fake smile. He held her stare without so much as flinching, "I knew from th' beginning that I'd never be saved."

"And so you threw your life away?"

"I didn't ask t' get cut up by a sword. I didn't ask t' have my arm ripped off by that bastard." I wouldn't have minded if I could have kept living. For her. He paused, giving her a hard look, "But I did an' I died. And that's how life goes in any world—yours or mine."

"But it was different for you," Sakura said quietly, fully aware that this was possibly the most Gin had spoken of the matter. "You're here now. Don't you think it a bit odd?"

"What's odd?"

"If you couldn't be saved, if you were meant to die for your crimes, then why were you given a second chance at life?"

Gin's eyes widened briefly. Why? Indeed, that was a good question. He had considered it a punishment, of sorts. To be stuck in a human body without Shinsou, without Rangiku. Without anything that had ever mattered.

But maybe Sakura had finally said something useful, he mused. Maybe, for once, she was right. Was this his chance, finally, to redeem himself?

He took in the medical-nin's small frame as she began to apply a salve to his shoulder, methodically massaging it into the whiteness of his skin. What were the chances of this girl finding him in that section of the forest? That the person who had happened to find him had been capable of restoring him to life? Indeed, he didn't much like her. She was a pain in the ass. But she cared, in her own way. That much was clear. She cared about what happened to him.

And that was a far cry from what he had expected.

He thought back to their encounter with the hollow, recalling his worry as Sakura had seemed to slip from him. She had reminded him of Rangiku, then, lying their on the ground, a broken bloody mess. He hadn't been able to protect her from the pain.

I can't make any more promises. Of that much he was certain. I can't keep them.

"You weren't going to leave without saying hello, I hope?" inquired a familiar voice, halting Sakura in mid-step as she guided Gin out of the hospital room.

Immediately she turned, her eyes widening in recognition as she caught sight of long blonde hair and vastly deep blue eyes, "Ino!"

"Who else?" Ino rolled her eyes. "You act like you're the only one who should be working in this hospital. I'll have you know that my medical jutsu have become quite proficient."

Sakura laughed, though it was strained. She was trying her best not to look at Ino's leg. Or at least at her leg's replacement. "How have you been, Ino-pig? Still fruitlessly chasing after boys?"

"Can't do much chasing with this thing," she patted the metal replacement, "now can I?"

Sakura fell silent, lost for words. When she found her voice, it came out in a nervous squeak, "I-ino, about that—"

But Ino interrupted her, holding up her hand, "You're not the only one who has changed, you know. I was never your equal in anything. Once Tsunade-sama oversaw your training, you jumped ahead of me—almost to the point that I'd never be able to catch you. Even now, I don't know that I have. However," she paused to give Sakura a significant look, "I quit chasing you. Losing a leg is nothing. I belong in this hospital and I contribute this way. I was never good in the fighting arena, anyway."

"But—"

"Let me finish," Ino ordered. "You're probably sitting there, feeling sorry for yourself about how you couldn't help me. Well, get it through your thick forehead: I didn't need your help. I chose to lose it—the way you chose to lose your hair that day in the Forest of Death."

"Ino!" Sakura teased, feeling that the seriousness of this conversation was meant for a later time. "Legs don't grow back like hair, you know."

Almost on impulse, Ino stuck out her tongue, and the two girls fell into a fit of much needed laughter. So much had happened in those years. So much had changed for them both. But standing there in the hall of the hospital, insulting and teasing one another, was the first thing that had felt normal in years.

"Ok, Ino-pig," Sakura said, simultaneously gasping for air, "I get it."

"Good."

Gin stepped forward, his eyes stretched into thin observant lines, causing the two to regain some control, "Women are strange, strange creatures."

"Who is this?" Ino asked, her laughter coming to a rather abrupt halt upon catching Gin's sly smile; he gave her goosebumps.

"This," Sakura said, gently patting Gin's good arm, "is Gin. If you want to keep your sanity, I suggest you ignore anything he says. Oh," she continued in her best evocation of nonchalance, "and don't ask about his past. That's also completely irrelevant and nonsensical."

Gin gave Sakura a strange look that wasn't lost on Ino; before she could stop herself, the blonde kunoichi found herself in another tantrum of uncontrollable laughter. "Saaakura," she drooled with a wink, "you didn't tell me that you have a boyfriend."

At the mere idea, Sakura shrieked, "Ino-pig! He is most definitely not my boyfriend. Look at him!"

"Come on," Ino continued with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Don't be modest."

Sakura's red face didn't aid matters. Quickly, grabbing Gin by his free arm, she pulled them both towards the exit, deftly stepping around her old rival.

Still snickering, Ino turned to watch her friend rapidly disappearing down the corridor, "Hey Sakura!"

The pink haired medic-nin stopped briefly, glancing behind, "What?"

"Drinks tonight! My place. Just the two of us." This time Ino's smile was genuine, "We have a lot of catching up to do!"

"A lot of catchin' up to do, huh?" Gin snorted, not bothering to hide a tantalizing grin. "Just th' two of you?"

"Shut up," Sakura said, hitting him ruthlessly on the chest before waving farewell to Ino. "I'll see you tonight, then!"

"Why can't I play shougi with your friend while ya pay your house calls?"

"Because you can't stay out of trouble."

"T' be fair, he doesn't seem t' much like trouble."

"He doesn't," Sakura agreed. "But I can't say the same for you."

The smell of ramen grew more pronounced the closer their footsteps brought them to Ichiraku's, and though Sakura was resigned to admit it, it was a rather welcoming scent. Ramen meant Naruto. And seeing Naruto would really mean that she had come home. After all, Konoha wasn't Konoha without its number one unpredictable ninja.

"So who is it gonna be this time?"

"A former teammate," she replied, then added in afterthought, "you might actually like him."

Sakura didn't bother to mention that everyone liked Naruto, given time. He just had that ability to draw people in and keep them close.

"He any good?" Gin demanded haphazardly.

"At what?"

"This ninja stuff."

"One of the best," she responded with some amount of satisfaction.

Upon entering Ichiraku's, the first thing Sakura noticed was that the formerly small street-bar had turned into a full-blown restaurant. It bore only the vaguest resemblance to the Ichiraku's of her childhood until she saw the two busy owners behind the counter, still taking orders as always.

Her focus, however, rapidly shifted as she noticed, sitting on a stool within the proximity of several empty bowls, the unmistakable form of her best friend.

"Naruto!" Sakura murmured beneath her breath, temporarily forgetting Gin as she launched into a run, "Naruto!"

Just as the blond ninja began to turn, he was caught in Sakura's fond embrace, a sound of utter disbelief the only thing he could get past a mouthful of ramen. Swallowing quickly, he returned the hug with wide-eyes and a slowly growing smile, "S-sakura-chan?"

"You," she began as she released him, eyeing him from head to toe, "you look different…"

He still had the same physical characteristics—the blond hair, the bright blue eyes, even the whisker marks. He was even still wearing some variant of his favorite orange outfit. But there was a strange bearing to him. It radiated confidence.

"I've been training a lot," he offered.

Sakura shook her head, "No, no. I meant—well—you're just… I don't know. Different."

"A good kind of different, I hope," Naruto grinned, running a hand absentmindedly through his hair. "You know, everything is different these days. I bet you are too."

"Was she just as abusive, easily angered, and manipulative before she left?" Gin inquired with a straight face, opting to take the furthest seat from his pink-haired warden.

Naruto snickered beneath his breath, welcoming his new companion in stride, "Oh, you have no idea."

"I think I might."

"Are you a friend of Sakura's?"

Not wanting to know what Gin's response would be to that particular question, Sakura sidled her way between them. "Naruto, this is Gin."

"Nice to meet you," he mumbled through a mouthful of noodles. "I'm Naruto. The former number one most unpredictable ninja. And future Hokage of Konoha"

"Former?" Sakura quizzed with a raised brow.

"Well," he admitted sheepishly, "maybe I haven't entirely given up my claim to that title, but Konohamaru is giving me a run for my money."

"Konohamaru," she mused, picturing the Third Hokage's grandson, "he must be quite grown-up by now."

Naruto shook his head, "Yeah, he's gotten really strong…"

As his response died in the bustling of Ichiraku's, silence fell like a curtain over the two comrades, leading them down the rather unwelcome path of nostalgia.

Sakura mulled over the way the light in Naruto's eyes had transformed since the last time she had seen him. Every part of him radiated with his ever-present determination, but he seemed to have acquired something else too—something only life-experience could give. He wasn't the same prankster child or the hopeful teenager. He was an adult now and had come to realize the hard truth of life: some things couldn't be changed no matter how hard one tried.

She imagined that out of anything he had had to learn, this lesson had proven to be the most difficult.

It certainly hadn't been easy for her.

And before she could stop herself, she thought of Sasuke. She had loved him—loved him despite his crimes and his unhealthy thirst for revenge. She had loved him enough to believe that she could change him.

And in the end, the only person who had changed had been herself.

Naruto seemed to be catering to similar thoughts and quickly cleared his throat, disgruntled by the rapid pace with which the memories of his childhood had come trickling to the forefront of his thoughts.

"Want to train later, Sakura-chan? I bet you've gotten strong—you know, working as one of the Twelve and all."

She gave a soft smile, shutting her mind to her own previous thoughts with some difficulty, and considered his offer, "I can't… I already made plans with Ino."

"Ah, I feel sorry for you. A night with Ino…" He turned to Gin, "What about you?"

"He's not a shinobi," the medic-nin answered quickly.

"Really?"

"I kinda got a late invitation to the ninja game," Gin confirmed.

Naruto's surprise gave way to an unusually thoughtful look, "You have the eyes of one."

Gin appeared only vaguely amused, "I ain't too bad with a sword, if it helps."

"You're probably good at sparring too."

He started to respond, but Sakura quickly interrupted, hoping he would take the hint, "I don't know if that's necessary, Gin."

"Actually, Naruto-san, I wouldn't mind trainin' with ya," Gin flashed a challenging glare in her direction, temporarily rendering Sakura speechless. "You can show me a few things."

"Great!" the future Hokage grinned, oblivious to the tacit game the other two were playing. "You can meet me at the old training grounds next to the memorial stone at dusk."

Gin didn't know where that was, but he nodded anyway.

Taking advantage of the lull in conversation, Naruto stood, "Well I'd better go. I feel like I'm late for something. I'm glad you're back Sakura-chan. Konoha isn't the same without you." He paused, apparently searching for more words, but quickly gave up. Words had once come easier between the two of them, Sakura realized. He turned to Gin instead, "Don't think I'll go easy on you!"

"I'd be disappoint'd if ya did."

"Heh," Naruto's eyes reflected their approval. "See ya later then!"

Sakura watched until the last shade of his orange suit disappeared out the door, feeling unexplainably disheartened. Often during the war, she had wondered how Naruto was holding up, worrying that the loss of Sasuke would cause him to lose sight of what truly mattered. That didn't seem to be the case, but still, something felt…off.

"Naruto…" she sighed, her heart inexcusably heavy.

No amount of time could fully heal the wound of Sasuke's defection from Konoha or the way he had betrayed his friends. But the two of them—Naruto and Sakura alike—had found ways to focus on other things. She was relieved to find that he hadn't forgotten his dream to become Hokage, and she—well, she had run away from it all, determined to stake out her own future—determined to create a future that didn't involve the past.

Although, she thought as Gin became, once again, the primary object of her attention, my future would be a lot better without him too.

"Is that wise?" Sakura asked—in lieu of the slew of other things that had come to mind.

"I'm not tryin' t' hide what I am," he replied smoothly. "What are ya so 'fraid of, anyway? For all anyone knows, I'm just your average guy."

She sighed, falling short of the energy for anger, "Too many strange things at once, I guess." After another moment, she stood, slowly making her way to the door, "You're right. I'm worrying over nothing. After all, I'll be leaving soon and you'll be on your own." She gave him a final glance, "I'm going to go wander around a bit. Do what you want. Someone can point you towards my apartment when you're done."

And for whatever unfathomable reason, Sakura's depression carried her outside. Away from the friendly faces in Ichiraku's and the reminders of her childhood. Of how Kakashi used to treat the entire original Team 7—Sasuke included—to ramen when they had performed particularly well on a mission. How she had frequently had to push a persistent love-struck Naruto into his ramen bowl when he would ask her out on a date.

Her ruminations opened the floodgates for a swell of convoluted emotions—emotions she had long since buried in her medical work as one of the Twelve.

It was why she had left Konoha to begin with—if Sakura was honest. She didn't want to have to remember. Anything. She didn't want to have to deal with the pain.

When considered from that angle, it was no wonder that she had such a short-circuit when it came to Gin. He had become the conduit that connected her to the singing ghosts of her past. It wasn't his fault, of course. He wasn't intentionally trying to cause her pain. But now Sakura found that she was resenting him for it.

I'm sorry Gin, she thought with a quick glance to the sky. I treat you like a child, but really, I'm acting like one.

What about his pain? What about his memories? He wasn't even in his own world. What were her problems compared to his? She tried to approach it from that point, making a note that she would be kinder—more aware of how he was feeling.

I'm not the only one who has lost someone I loved.

Her spirits lifted a little at the thought. No, she definitely wasn't the only one who had lost loved ones. But at the very least, she still had those loved ones who were still living to share the pain—and the joys—that came with survival.

She still had Naruto and Kakashi—the original Team 7. Sai was somewhere too—and he had become a rather well-chosen replacement for Sasuke. Ino had been wounded, but her spirit hadn't faltered. If anything, she had only been strengthened from it. Tsunade had merely taken one look at her and hugged her, welcoming her home. Yes, she thought, I still have my precious people.

Gin, on the other hand, had no one.

No one, Sakura realized, but her.

Endnote: It takes me an upwards of 8-12 hours to write these chapters. Sometimes far more. It takes you two minutes to show me that my effort wasn't wasted. Your reviews are read, considered, and appreciated.

Special Announcement: I've started a new crossover. Wolf's Rain x Naruto. If you find the Itachi/Sasuke story to be one of the more moving stories in anime (barring the fact that Sasuke is a complete moron 95% of the time), then this might be the story for you. Give it a try.