It didn't take long for the word of healing to get out. Later that week about twenty people had gathered at Iva's house. Sakura was the center of attention.
"I was thinking, would you be interested in teaching a class at the school?" An old man asked Sakura. "I teach them maths and writing and history but a practical class like this would really help."
"Maybe another class later in the day for those 15 and older who are interested in really healing?" Someone proposed.
"We could meet every day!" Someone else hollered. "And in the winter when we're uable to reach the mines we can meet up for longer!"
They erupted and Sakura was touched by how eager they all were to learn.
"How about this," she reigned them in. The men get out of the mines around six right? When it gets dark? How about from seven to nine every weekday I host a class for those fifteen and up. And Yunu-sensei, I can give you a an outlined lesson on some simpler stuff for you to incorporate into your daily lessons for the younger kids? And the older kids in your class can even help teach. That way during the day I can work on making medicines and visiting patients?"
Iva clapped her hands together. "Oh it's just a brilliant idea!"
"But healing is really hard," Sakura warned. "It will take a lot of free study. I want you to warn anyone who wants to get involved that this isn't easy. I'll prepare books to study for when we leave too."
They nodded in understanding. Iva stepped forward with a big grin. "And we've decided that while your here doing this for us Lily, Choji, we want you to stay in my parents house."
"We'll help you fix it up before the winter front rolls in," insisted Taka.
"You wont have to worry about food either. Or wood."
Naruto laughed. "Hey I'm going to help out too," he said. "I can help in the mines and with the trees."
"Muscle is just about all he's good for," Sakura laughed.
"Sounds like someone else we know," Iva mock-whispered, nudging an embarrassed Taka.
It wasn't long after that Naruto built himself in. He got a name for his hard work. He worked longer than anyone else in the mines. He gave it his all and only came home after everyone else, exhausted mentally and physically. Even then he'd started to work on the house. He poured his soul into fixing it up. Taka was a huge help and the villagers contributed wood and glass and nails.
Sakura, at first, just brushed it off as Naruto's hard-working nature. But late one night she walked in on him staring down at his forehead protector. He still couldn't forget the village. It had only been four months since they left but Sakura had found the transition easy. Perhaps because she was focusing on Naruto.
He poured himself into everything he did so he wouldn't remember the village. Sakura knew it was eating him up. They didn't think they would be pursued into the land of iron. It was neutral land and even if someone did discover him it was hard to make a movement in the samurai nation.
Sakura swore to make it easier on him. She wouldn't talk about Konoha. She would keep him away from ninja and incidences that would invoke painful memories.
Together, within a month, they had the house fixed up and began to work on the interior. Naruto built a table from wood. He hand carved it with tricks the villagers had taught. He even made a few chairs. These took quite some time to gather.
Sakura was having a lot of success with her classes. Nearly twenty women and men had been loyally following her lessons. taka and Iva in particular through dedication into it. And a 16 year old girl named Mikasa showed more talent than any student Sakura had met before. She was sure that, had Mikasa been a ninja, she would be an amazing medic nin.
Sakura expressed this to Naruto one night, sitting with him on a blanket near the fire. "I mean if I had a daughter I'd want her to be like Mika. She's completely brilliant."
Naruto looked towards the window. "Do you think you'll have kids one day?"
"I don't know. I wouldn't mind... I mean yeah. I really want some one day. I used to think that maybe Sasuke and I, you know..."
Naruto chuckled. "I teased him once about having pink haired kids."
Sakura wasn't amused.
"Hey you got to admit it's a little funny."
"My dad had pink hair, I think hereditary the boys end up with the pink hair."
"My mom had red hair. I thought I'd look good with it," Naruto laughed and pulled a cup of tea up to his lips, drinking.
"What about you," asked Sakura after a moments pause.
Naruto stared at his cup. "I cant."
"What do you mean you cant? Are you unable to-"
"It's not physical," he stopped her. "Or mental don't look at me like that! I just cant have kids in a world like this. You know what I went through as a kid... I couldn't let my kids go through that. It's better if I don't. It's safer."
"I think you could protect them," Sakura offered a weak smile and put a hand over his. "I think you'd destroy Konoha before you'd let someone hurt your kin."
"I would. But that's probably why the council outlawed it. I never understood it when I was little when the Anbu told me I couldn't have children. They said it was a special law and used really big words. I believed them."
"That's horrible! They cant stop you from being with someone just because they're scared it will weaken you!"
"They can and they did Sakura. I... I actually started to like you because of that. I mean also because you were really pretty and smart and cool, but also because I knew you'd never like me back. You'll never love me. You're safe. Sorry I guess it's a little unfair of me to burden you like that."
"It's not a burden," Sakura insisted. "Your love is never a burden. And now things are different. You don't have to be afraid of a council."
"I know. But it's ingrained in my mind. I cant help it. Sorry Sakura. Thanks for listening."
He wasn't understanding what she was saying. What she was insisting. Sakura watched him get up and walk into the bathroom.
"Stupid boy. You're love was never a burden... I was just too weak," she sighed into her cup.
