A few weeks later Yahiko had them venturing out to steal some food, even though they already had plenty, and Sakura decided to use a few of tricks to help out "I'm telling you Yahiko-san, it will work" she stared the orange haired boy down when he refused.
Konan waved her hands standing to the side uselessly "No good will come from associating from someone who wants to be a shinobi" Yahiko shook his head but eventually relented "Fine, but if we get caught I know who to blame" he sulked, why couldn't he win against her it wasn't fair.
"Are you sure you'll be able to Sakura-chan, I know you've been practicing really hard" Nagato took her hand like he was use to doing as they trekked through the caves down the mountain, making the time they took to get up it shorter, and then they were darting into the village down to the market.
Sakura nodded confidently, she'd gotten less than half of her chakra back, her chakra coils had been getting a good work out after all from all that meditating "Yes Nagato-kun, I'm sure" she flashed him a beaming smile that had his cheeks flushing as usual whenever she did it.
Konan sidled up to them "I know you said it was to protect you're precious people, but what else could you want to become a shinobi for" she questioned curiously letting Yahiko lead them for a bit and walk with the two others that had become part of their life just recently.
"I want to be the worlds best medical ninja" Sakura chattered exuberantly though her eyes dulled as she said the words, technically she was, in the old time line that was, but she'd gotten no pleasure out of them, this time she'd make her dream come true and do it right.
Her amber eyes went wide "What you mean like healing people, ninja can do that" Konan whispered, Sakura nodded and her shoulders slumped "I wish the Hidden Rain Village had those medic people, then my parents might not have died" she murmured.
Feeling awful Sakura patted Konan on the shoulder "It's okay Konan-chan, you've got Yahiko-san, Nagato-kun and me now, we're all family since we don't have any parents left" she said cheerfully pulling the bluenette in for a hug.
"Thanks Sakura-chan" she wiped away a tear that had gathered in the corner of her eye, Sakura smiled and finally Yahiko looped back towards them telling them what they'd be getting and to get ready, then he turned to the pinkette.
Sakura straightened "Right then show us you're ninja trick" Yahiko ordered arms crossed over his chest, and she sighed before leading them into an alley, then in front of their very eyes Sakura disappeared making Nagato freak out.
Just as he was preparing to run screaming from the alley "Nagato-kun don't be alarmed, I'm still here just underneath a transparency jutsu" her voice rang out and the red head calmed massively, for all he claimed that Sakura wasn't his sister, he sure acted like they were siblings sometimes.
When he felt her hand in his "Warn me next time okay Sakura-chan" Nagato pulled Sakura into a hug making it look like he was hugging air, a moment later he let her go before she walked over to Yahiko and put her hand on his shoulder as the orange haired boy led them forward, as they went around stealing.
Eventually they got caught, not Sakura though she grabbed up as many melons as she could and sealed them in a scroll leaving just as the two men returned "I can't believe her she just abandoned us" Sakura could hear Yahiko yelling in an alley and rolled her eyes.
"A flare for the dramatics eh Yahiko-san, I can't believe you'd even think I'd abandon Nagato-kun, or Konan-chan, or you, you dork" Sakura removed her transparency jutsu and waved her scroll in his face "What was it you said that it wouldn't work" she smirked unsealing the melons.
Yahiko's brown eyes went wide "So you mean you were getting those" he asked and they were resealed in the scroll, he now felt horribly guilty for doubting the pinkette suddenly, in the end she'd proven her worth as had Nagato and now they were invaluable friends to him.
"Well of course, a shinobi never abandons a mission, though in some cases the situation calls for it, I knew you three would be fine" Sakura stated easily putting the scroll away, then she realized they couldn't go trekking through the village with a large back of food so it was sealed away as well.
Really rethinking his decision now that they'd actually gotten their desired quota for the day, about shinobi, Yahiko crossed his arms as they walked back to their hideout in the mountain "Say Sakura can anyone become a shinobi" he suddenly asked.
Sakura peered at him those heavy emerald eyes "Everyone has chakra, unfortunately the way I was taught isn't something I can replicate out here" she lied straight through her teeth at him, not that Yahiko would know it.
Actually she could teach them, but then there would be no purpose to meet with Jiraiya, and no matter how much of a pervert the old sage was, she really, really needed to see him, to actually believe she was in the past despite spending the last week with Nagato, Yahiko and Konan.
"Oh I see" Yahiko deflated, what kind of training had her parents been giving her, "Well lets get back" he marched them back through the village to the mountain and then to their hideout near the very top where all the food they'd stolen was unsealed and added to the pile.
Once they were back in the cave, Sakura flopped down against the wall tiredly and closed her eyes "Hey what's wrong Sakura-chan" Konan asked seeing the girl about to fall asleep, Sakura forced her eyes open and Nagato was next to her.
"Well there is a limit to how much chakra I'm able to use and I really stretched it thin and close today" she explained as exhaustion caught up with her body, it sucked being a kid again, but that's why she was practicing so hard, to regain all of her chakra, of course, it wasn't going nearly as fast as she wanted.
Worry filled him and Yahiko couldn't help but feel guilty again, Sakura had tried to warn him she wouldn't be able to keep up her jutsu for over three hours, and yet he'd pushed the limit anyway "Are you going to be okay Sakura-chan" he walked towards the trio.
Sakura flashed him a smile "Yeah Yahiko-kun, just need to rest for a bit, for future warning there are consequences to almost using up all you're chakra, chakra exhaustion and death are a couple to name, but I'll be alright" she said closing her eyes again.
When her breathing evened out Nagato took the time to place a blanket over her so she wouldn't be cold, "You know at first I couldn't really believe she was there and that I'd just dreamed her up" he admitted to Yahiko and Konan.
That was something for sure, "Why though I mean orphans are pretty common especially in times of war" Konan frowned in confusion, Sakura definitely was unique, knowing all the things she did, but the pinkette always wrote them off as her parents teaching her how to do that.
Nagato sighed "If someone approached you and offered to be you're friend after weeks of being alone and everyone ignoring you, suddenly being cared for, getting food to eat, wouldn't you think you'd dreamed a person up" he asked.
"Good point, she doesn't really seem like an orphan, but whatever she's part of the group and you are to Nagato, and precious friends we wouldn't be able to go on without" Yahiko exclaimed quietly and got a giggle from Konan.
A couple hours later when it was nearing dinner time Sakura stretched her arms high in the air and blinked awake, she quickly checked to see how much chakra she'd regain, enough to sustain herself, then stood "Guess I'll get started on supper" Sakura hopped up.
Yahiko quickly stood in her way "No, Nagato, Konan and I will make dinner tonight you just rest" he gently pushed her back down in her spot, Sakura went to protest, but Nagato gave her this big smile the first one he'd given her and she couldn't say no.
"Okay but just this once" she huffed her cheek as red as an apple and her heart beating in her chest, dinner which wasn't as good as something as she could make was soon being dished out, Sakura couldn't help but smile though when Nagato and Yahiko sat down on either side of her.
And Konan sat next to Yahiko, "I know it's nothing what you can cook Sakura-chan, but we really did try our hardest" Konan admitted taking her wooden spoon and dipping it into the bowl emerging with some chicken, vegetables and broth before blowing on it.
"Yeah though the more we practice the better we'll get right" Yahiko peered down at the much smaller girl "By the way how old are you" he asked trying to see if he could tell, a moment later he gave up, it was impossible.
Sakura held up seven fingers and Nagato choked on his stew "What, I thought you were older, at least by a couple of years, I'm eight by the way" he announced, the pinkette sandwiched between him and Yahiko, lowered her spoon.
"It's easy to make that kind of assumption based on the amount of information I have and my abilities, listen someone can be much younger, but still stronger than a fully grown adult" Sakura stated bluntly before returning to her soup.
Yahiko set his bowl down and dragged Sakura into a hug "You know even though you're a brat, you're not so bad" he grinned cheekily and she stuck her tongue out at him with a little giggle, it wasn't so terrible being with them after all.
And it reminded her greatly of, she shook her head, that would come at a later time, first she had to save these three, "Say what do you guys say to venturing out in a couple months" she suggested suddenly determination in her emerald eyes.
"What like leave the Hidden Rain Village" Konan's eyes went wide, none of them had even considered it, Sakura shook her head again "Then what do you mean" she inquired and Yahiko's hand grasped hers while he kept staring at the pinkette.
"No nothing that dire yet we are only kids after all, I mean what if we went out to see if we can't find a shinobi who'd be willing to take us on and train us" Sakura rushed out staring between the three rain orphans, Naruto had told her they'd met Jiraiya when they were around this age.
Yahiko rubbed his chin as he polished off his stew "The idea does have some merit but what will we do with all this food" he gestured around him and Sakura pulled out four storage scrolls and took a deep breath to present her idea.
"What if we rationed off some of it, and stored it in these scrolls and we'll each carry one, and then return the rest" she offered and Yahiko nodded liking the idea greatly, at least that way they'd still have some food, plus Sakura's if they ever ran out.
Nagato exhaled shakily "That means potential danger" his forehead was creased and tears were gathering in his eyes and sliding down his pale smooth cheeks, Sakura craned her neck around to meet his gaze and smiled reassuringly like she always did.
"Don't forget I'm here, though we'll have to keep an eye on Chibi-kun" Sakura pointed at the pup who'd gained a lot of weight over the week from eating good food, "Wouldn't want him getting hurt after all" and Nagato shook his head pulling the puppy into his lap.
Yahiko snorted but nothing more was said even if he thought the puppy's name was kind of dumb sounding, he wasn't going to argue, it's not like he had to take care of him, Sakura did all of that and more making sure his fur was brushed and that his nails were sharp.
She said that with enough training that he could become a companion to them that would protect them, he didn't think it was possible, but Sakura remained stubborn "Yeah that sounds like a good idea" he finally sighed standing from his spot jostling the pinkette slightly.
Sakura smiled inwardly as the bowls and spoons they'd used were set out in the rain and the rest of the stew was sealed away in a heated storage scroll that she had on hand so it didn't go bad during the night, then the four of them crowded around the fire and drifted off to sleep.
In the middle of the night Chibi let out a whimper and Sakura's eyes popped open feeling the approaching chakra, "Hey Yahiko, Konan, Nagato wake up" she jumped out from beneath her covers waking the others immediately with her hurried movements.
"Hide" she ordered shoving the rain orphans behind some crates and pulled a poison coated senbon from her hair, she'd taken to weaving weapons into her hair just like the kunoichi of the old days and narrowed her green eyes after putting out the fire.
He appeared ten minutes later, drenched and covered in mud, Yahiko covered Nagato and Konan's mouths as they cried silently, his eyes focused on Sakura's form as she leaped high in the air quietly and jammed her senbon needle into the man's neck.
The poison took affect and Sakura hastily turned the shinobi over, 'Stone Village' she clicked her tongue and shoved the man from the cave and then over the side of the cliff, then Sakura restarted the fire and beckoned the others out from their hiding places.
"What happened to him" Konan looked around afraid that the man would suddenly jump out at them, Sakura jerked her hand over her shoulder pointing out of the cave "Is he gonna come back" she shivered as a chill swept through her.
"Nah I don't think so" Sakura ran her hand through her pink hair hiding her weapon again, "Let's go back to sleep Nagato" she lifted her blanket and the red head slipped beneath it to cuddle under it with her sleeping through the rest of the night.
Next morning the three of them woke up to the smell of bacon wafting through the cave "So what exactly happened last night, I know there was this guy, but other than that nothing" Yahiko yawned tiredly, he hadn't gotten much sleep after that.
Nagato also turned wanting to get the whole story from his friend, "All I remember is you telling us to hide and then crawling beneath the blanket with you" he fiddled with his hands as Sakura stood over the fire cooking bacon, eggs, and what looked like pancakes.
Knowing she wouldn't be able to get away with not answering, Sakura lowered her spatula to let the bacon cook properly and faced the trio of rain orphans "A shinobi from the Hidden Stone Village" she started eyeing the eggs.
"Came here last night, I felt his chakra getting closer, and then I pushed him over the side of the cliff" Sakura explained, not telling the trio that she'd killed the man before shoving him off the cliff, and that he was most likely still down there in the mud.
Konan blinked "I'm glad that you are here will us" she sat down neatly in a chair watching Sakura closely hoping to pick up on a few of her cooking tricks, the girl was a master chef, and it was amazing what she came up with most days.
Sakura smiled 'Yeah though none of this would have been possible if it hadn't been for Naruto, Sasuke and Lady Tsunade' she thought inwardly flipping the pancakes and the bacon, removing the eggs before they burned.
Five minutes later the four of them, Chibi getting whatever was left, ate their breakfast, before Sakura moved to the wall to start her meditation, this time Yahiko joined her, "So why exactly do you meditate" he questioned curiously.
"It helps me connect with my surroundings and lets me have a calmer state of mind in the case of an emergency" she told a half truth, already getting sick and tired of the lies, the other half of it was because by meditating she was able to connect with her chakra more easily.
Nagato instantly perked up "Can I meditate with you Sakura-chan" he asked in a small voice, no matter how much reassurances he got from the pinkette, he still feared that one day she'd just leave them all behind.
"Yeah can we Sakura-chan" Konan pouted flopping down gracelessly by the pinkette as Yahiko sat in front of them and Nagato on her other side, Sakura sighed in exasperation but there was a smile on her lips as she nodded.
Relenting to their demand "Okay first let's form a circle" Sakura instructed, she was just teaching them to meditate, not access their chakra, their circle was formed and they each held hands "Now close you're eyes" she ordered gently.
"Even you're breaths out start counting them, clear you're mind" her voice commanded kindly as Yahiko, Konan and Nagato tried their hand at meditating, Sakura smiled inwardly when their hands went slack and she sunk her own awareness into her body losing sight of her surroundings.
When the four of them came to an hour had passed "Wow I had no idea meditating could be so relaxing" Yahiko stood and stretched his stiff muscles, "Don't know how you do it for hours on end every day though" he laughed teasingly.
Konan covered her mouth as a yawn escaped from between her lips "Yeah, it's to easy for someone to sneak up on us though, so maybe if we are gonna meditate with Sakura-chan everyday we can take turns so that someone is still keeping watch" she murmured a moment later.
Nagato eyed his pink haired friend as she froze "It is okay if we meditate with you right Sakura-chan" he asked worriedly drawing Yahiko's and Konan's gazes onto the pinkette, she faced them all with a smile and he relaxed.
"Absolutely, it's a great way to achieve total peace of mind after all" Sakura stretched herself working her muscles so they didn't grow weak, she'd worked hard to reach her goal and she definitely wasn't going to turn into the useless good for nothing again.
Yahiko, Nagato and Konan relaxed as their fears were put to rest, none of them knew there was a different meaning behind Sakura's meditation, and that was exactly how she liked it, after they met up with Jiraiya, she'd teach them then, but for now it was better if only she knew how to use chakra.
"So what now" Yahiko stared around, if they were going to leave there in a couple months time, then they were going to have to start storing away food little by little, leaving them enough to eat during the next two months and still have lots to return to those they'd stolen from.
Sakura's eyes lit up "Well I've mentally calculated how much we can ration away, and then keep for ourselves to survive the next to months, the rest we'll return" she nodded staring at the orange haired brown eyed boy hoping he didn't have a problem with that.
Yahiko shook his head knowing the silent question she was asking, this was something he wasn't going to argue with her over, besides while he was smart, Sakura was smarter, but she kept to the shadows letting him lead it was weird, but oddly very sweet.
With that the pinkette whipped out her four storage scrolls and sealed some food within each scroll to last them once they left, then she separated a few crates already filled with things they'd need for the next couple of months, leaving over half of it to be returned.
"Wow Sakura-chan, you're pretty good at that, are you sure we'll have enough" Konan skipped over to the only other girl in the group, eyeing the three crates that had been moved over to a different side of the cave signaling that's all they'd have for two months.
Sakura nodded "Yeah if we're careful and don't worry about Chibi-kun, he's still mine and Nagato's responsibility, anyway I think I'm gonna go on a walk" she pointed to the caves waved then disappeared from view, she had to find that shinobi she'd killed.
She might be able to get some information off of him, Sakura hurried through the caves and out into the pouring rain in fifteen minutes flat, then ran around the mountain to the side she believed she'd pushed the man from, twenty minutes of searching through the mud and rain she found him.
"Yuck" Sakura's face twisted in disgust as she pulled the dead body free of the mud and patted down his clothes, his pockets and pouches, she found weapons stained and rusty, a couple of scrolls that she had no idea what were in them, and a three hundred ryo that she put in her own pocket.
Other than that Sakura found a couple of explosive tags and his stone village headband which she hid away in her pocket, then memorized his face, never knew when she'd have to transform into somebody else after all to protect those she cared for.
When she was done, Sakura shoved him in the mud taking what she'd pilfered and flew through a set of hand signs, "Earth Style: Bed Rock Coffin" she called, might as well give him a proper burial, though it was a bittersweet one.
Then Sakura stood and traipsed into the village, going to a weapons stall, the stall owner eyed her warily "Can I get thirteen exploding tags, fifteen sound proofing tags, fifteen genjutsu tags, and fifteen scrolls, plus a pack of senbon needles please" she held out the three hundred ryo she'd gotten.
Surprised "Heh a rich kid huh" the stall owner put tags, weapons, and scrolls the pinkette had asked for and took the money, when he tried to give her back the left over she shook her head "Thanks" he smiled and she ran off without another word.
With her little bag of goodies in hand, Sakura ran back towards the mountain traversing it through the caves sealing away her bag and the other items she'd gotten so that she would be asked no questions, she knew she'd been gone for awhile and most likely Nagato was wigging out.
Sure enough the minute she came into view the red head tackled her "Sakura-chan, you were gone for so long we thought something had happened to you" he squeezed her tightly to his side refusing to let go, until she patted him on the arm urgently.
Sakura took a deep breath when Nagato finally let her go "I'm okay, sorry got a little turned around in the caves on the way back" she lied using the fake smile she'd created to freak Sai out, how she missed that idiot, someday, she'd be able to see him again, she was sure of it.
"Well take one of us with you next time" Yahiko sulked, he'd been truly worried when the pinkette hadn't returned and it had been going on nearly an hour since she'd said she was going on a walk, Sakura nodded in understanding.
Konan however flew at the pinkette and wrapped her arms around the other girl "Don't scare me like that ever again do you here me Sakura-chan" she scolded tears streaming down her cheeks, and guilt bubbled in Sakura's chest.
"Sorry Konan-chan, Nagato-kun, Yahiko-kun, I didn't mean to worry you guys" she hunched her shoulders truly feeling like a little kid again, Konan released her and the three of them sat down against the cave wall just chatting until it was lunch time.
This time Sakura jumped up before Yahiko could stop her and rolled up her sleeves already knowing exactly what she was going to cook, green bean casserole, it was easy if one knew how to cook without a stove, Sakura smirked setting out the ingredients.
Yahiko watched closely "You know you're pretty conservative, before we never really thought about how much we were eating until you and Nagato came along" he sighed as she worked, Sakura really was amazing even if she was a brat, technically they were to, but she was younger than them.
"Mhm I read it all in a book" she switched tactics, she couldn't keep saying her parents had taught her everything, otherwise the rain orphans were to surely become suspicious and start asking questions, in which case she'd slip up and tell the truth which would cause even more problems that she didn't need.
Konan's amber eyes rounded in surprise "Wow you mean you've got to read actual books, my parents didn't even have time to buy one" she pouted and Sakura paused in her cooking to send her a concerned look.
"I still have a book that I brought with me, it's my favorite, I'll read it to you later is that okay Konan-chan" she offered, the blue haired girl nodded eagerly, even Yahiko and Nagato looked greatly interested in being read to.
Lunch was soon ready after that and the four of them, and Chibi who got left overs like usual sat down in the way they were slowly becoming use to, with Sakura and Konan in the middle now sandwiched by Yahiko and Nagato on either side of them as they ate.
The rest of the day was spent with Sakura reading from the book she unsealed, it wasn't really a book, but it counted in Konan's eyes as she read telling the rain orphans all about their countries leader Hanzo and his abilities and everything else.
She saw no harm in telling them about Hanzo after all, plus the knowledge would come in handy later on down the road, especially if she was going to approach him and hopefully sway him away from Danzo, it hadn't really been the man's fault.
No the blame lay squarely on Danzo's shoulders for lying, if it was the last thing she did Sakura was going to put a stop to that man's scheming, prevent him from ruining the Uchiha Clan, and stop Obito and Black Zetsu, she had a new and improved seal just for that bastard after all.
Once dinner was made and polished off Sakura sat down to do her pre-bed meditation with Yahiko joining her while Nagato and Konan kept watch when they were done everyone crawled beneath their blankets and settled in for a long stormy night as they drifted off to sleep.