Chapter 5: Hayate's Turn, Day of Surprise

Hayate heard from a few friends that Genma, Hokage-sama, and Sakura had entered T&I. He waited in the reception area where he saw a person very dear to him. "Hey Yugao, how's it going?" Hayate asked casually as he leaned on the desk where Tonbo filled out some forms for their "visitors".

Yugao turned and smiled at him, "Hello Hayate, I heard you have a joint mission about a cute little girl. You like kids?" Hayate smiled, "I do like kids but she's special. She actually lives here in the village…would you like to meet her?" Yugao took a moment before smiling, "I'd love to meet her."

"Lucky for you two here she is," Genma said as he brought Sakura over to them having just left Ibiki's office.

Sakura leapt into Hayate's arms giggling, "Hayate-nii, who is this, is she your wife?" She turned to the bemused Yugao, "You're really pretty ninja-san!" Yugao just giggled at the embarrassed look on Hayate's face as he began to blush a bit and stole the little bundle of energy from him. "Thank you Sweetie, I'm Yugao and I'm not his wife but a very, very good friend of his."

Sakura asked, "Is that adult to kid speak for you being his girlfriend but not wanting to say it cause I'm a kid?" Yugao looked torn between laughing and blushing herself as she nodded in affirmative. "Pretty much…what's your name?"

Sakura giggled, "I'm Sakura Haruno, I'm 4 and I like books more than people but, Hayate-nii, Genma-nii, Mama, Papa, Ino, Hokage-sama, Mr. Tall Man, Purple, and you are ex-excep-exceptions to the rule." She turned to her amused guardians and added, "Since Hayate-nii is staying with me for now..." She turned to face Yugao and asked, "Do you want to come to my house for dinner?"

Genma barked out a laugh as Hayate said, "Did she seriously ask Yugao to a home date for me?" Sakura shamelessly admitted, "Yep, life's to short to not share it with the one's you love Hayate-nii." She made an exaggerated eyeroll and quipped, "Get with it already!"

The little one's sass caused the group to break out into laughter as they all headed for the exit. Genma added, "She might wanna come over another night kiddo, we've got grocery shopping to do for the week." Sakura pouted, "Aw but she's so pretty if Hayate-nii isn't careful someone will take her away!"

Genma stole Sakura from Yugao and winked, "She's gotta point ya know." Then he moved towards the markets where the village was bustling with activity. He chuckled at his friend's fortune and looked down at their shared charge, "You sure are a scary smart kid, you know that right?"

Sakura looked up at him and said, "Maybe but, you love me anyway." She looked towards a sale, "Oh look a sale…I've never had that before!" Genma just chuckled and began shopping to resupply the house for Hayate's week with Sakura.

Yugao watched them as she laughed, "She is a sweet kid. Funny too." Hayate grumbled, "She's also too smart for her own good." He allowed his eyes to trail over her smile, "I'm glad she invited you to dinner though. When are you free?" She returned with her own smile, "I'm free the night after tomorrow as long as no surprises pop up. I will keep it clear I promise." Hayate just smiled, "Looking forward to it, Yugao." The woman then turned to head back to Anbu HQ, "Me too, Hayate-kun." She smiled as she returned to work and happily moved on her way as he watched her go. Hayate shook his head, "Alright time to pack and head to the Haruno's house to settle in." With that the streets were clear for the most part aside from the shopping areas which were quite popular.

Ino opened the flower shop door and smiled when she saw a familiar head of pink hair, "Hey Sakura! Want to learn about flowers today?" Sakura nodded with a smile, "Un!" Ino led the smaller girl into the store and began setting up flowers to make a bouquet of flowers. "The way this works is if you want to make sure you gather flowers to send a message. So, if you remember from last time, what flowers would you put together for a friend?"

Sakura pick up several flowers, "Yellow Rose for Friendship, Alstroemeria for prosperity and fortune, Stock for wishing them a happy and long beautiful life, and to finish it off a Blue Iris with a Daisy!" Ino's mother who finished speaking with Genma gasped at the beauty of the bouquet. Ino was shocked, "Why a daisy? Daisy means love silly."

Sakura looked confused, "Doesn't a Daisy mean loyal love, you love your friends loyally don't you?" Ino's mother smiled, "You're right Sakura-chan. This is the perfect bouquet to give to a friend because you are using the flowers to wish them well letting them know you care for them very much." The girls laughed and smiled spending most of the day making a number of different bouquets that sold very easily as the patrons came in and saw the girls making them so happily.

~3 Days Later~

It was the morning after Hayate and Sakura had dinner with Yugao. They were eating breakfast when a brisk knock came to the front door of the house. Hayate moved to answer the door where a messenger stood, "Hokage-sama has requested your presence and asked to bring Sakura-san with you." Hayate nodded and said, "We'll clean up and head right over."

With that the messenger left and Hayate returned to find Sakura was gone from the table. He heard the sink turn on upstairs and realized she was already getting ready he turned to the table to notice it was clear of everything but his tea. He shook his head and moved up the stairs just as Sakura came from the bathroom grinning, "All yours Hayate-nii! I'm going to get dressed now." He moved into the bathroom and uncapped his toothbrush to clean his teeth washing his hands after to clear the sink of the soapy residue.

"You ready Sakura-chan?" Hayate moved towards the end of the stairs when he heard a grumble. He returned further down the hall to see Sakura struggling to get her nicely groomed hair through the opening on her shirt without messing it up. He pulled the collar a little more open for her and helped her get it over her head. She smiled in gratitude and put her arms through the sleeves and sat on her bed to pull on her socks and then followed him down the steps to throw on her shoes. She grabbed her little bag and put her pencil and workbooks for the week in the bag, so she had something to do if needed. She also made sure to slip in the Hokage's seal and letter from his older self in the bag at the bottom to hide it from prying eyes. 'I hope today is the day I can give him this…I just hope he believes me.' She then joined Hayate outside as he locked the front door. Together they walked to the Hokage tower the 4-year-old being very good at staying with her protector.

As they entered the office Hiruzen sat with Genma standing to the left an apologetic look on his face. "Gekko-san, Sakura-chan, I apologize for the summons but, I need Genma and Hayate to check on something for me at the borders. Would you mind spending some time with me today Sakura-chan?"

Sakura shook her head, "It's okay I won't tell on you!" Sakura kept her laughter in her head even though she and inner both wanted to crack up. As time passed and inner saw more of her memories she began to change and reflect more the woman she had been when she died. 'If only they knew' Inner responded to her thought with snickering. 'It's better if they don't know for now. I plan on telling Hokage-sama to try and save the Uchiha family and maybe get Naruto some better living circumstances.'

"Sakura-chan?" A patient voice called and Sakura looked up to see the office empty. Sakura looked around and asked, "Hokage-sama, if I told you I had a big secret I needed to share that no one else could hear would you say it's safe to tell you here?" She turned her expressive eyes to Hiruzen who sat at his desk with his anbu guarding him in shock. He smiled gently, "I trust these men with my life Sakura-chan but if it's a big secret I can seal the room so none can see or hear what goes on from inside it. Do I need to?"

Sakura nodded her eyes regaining a gleam that should exist in no child's gaze, "Yes Hokage-sama," her voice cleared and sounded older than she looked. "it would be best for the room to be sealed." Hiruzen sealed the room himself and stared at Sakura with caution. "What kind of secret do you have child?"

Sakura walked up and presented the older seal and letter in hand, "Something you wouldn't believe without these. They are proof that everything to be discussed is real." She placed the seal and letter on his desk and allowed him to check for any tricks, traps, or henges. He then carefully opened the letter and began reading the letter with caution as he glanced up at her from time to time. She stood patiently not straying for a moment looking surprisingly grown for a woman mentally in her mid-20s being sent back into her child self could.

Hiruzen turned to his shocked Anbu and fiercely stated, "You will not share this information with anyone!" He then turned to Sakura, "You are from the future…a future torn with the Fourth Shinobi War where you gave your life for Naruto and Sasuke."

Sakura was somber and simply answered, "Yes, Hokage-sama. I was signed to Team 7 under Kakashi Hatake at the conclusion of my academy years alongside Sasuke and Naruto. A number of events took place leading the team to part ways. Sasuke left to apprentice under Orochimaru for power to achieve revenge, Naruto for safety was removed from the village by Jiraiya to travel and train as his apprentice." She paused, "In my other life I was not serious about being a kunoichi until after several horrible events took place leading up to your death and the team separating. Kakashi had returned to Anbu and I sought out the 5th Hokage Tsunade to become her apprentice."

Hiruzen clasped his hand together humming thoughtfully, "Can you share what you know?" Sakura sighed, "I can to a point…as you read my mission is to change just enough of the past and make enough political connections with several dangerous people in order to bring a halt to the 4th War. I can't let myself live as I did before. I was gifted with several items to help me in my journey. Hashirama-sama was kind enough to assist me with my chakra levels without forcing me to sacrifice my own abilities. I simply meditate twice daily to support my growth and control."

"What is the first thing that needs to change?" Hiruzen asked calmly. "That depends…how is your relationship with the Uchiha Clan on behalf of the village? Are they still being restricted on where to live?" Hiruzen looked with critical eyes, "Our relationship is soaked in suspicion because of the Kyuubi attack. A Sharingan is the only thing capable of controlling the beast as it was done that night."

Sakura took a moment before telling, "It was an Uchiha but, it was not an Uchiha within the village." She returned her gaze to him and said calmly, "Kanabi Bridge, Team Minato was sent and Obito Uchiha died to save Kakashi Hatake and gifted him with his eye." She continued, "What no one knew was that Obito was rescued by Uchiha Madara who was barely even alive at the time and nursed back to health…for the most part."

Hiruzen asked, "Why did he not return to the village?" Sakura frowned, "Obito came upon the Mist Ninja just as Rin had impaled herself on Kakashi's Chidori but, he thought Kakashi murdered her. He was distraught and Madara took advantage of him along with a creature called Zetsu." The man sighed painfully, "So, even then the boy was lost to us?"

Sakura nodded sadly, "I may be able to win him over but, it will take time and hard work. In order to reach him I need to befriend Kisame Hoshigaki, and Jiraiya's former students Konan and Nagato. Without them I won't get him to listen to me."

Hiruzen nodded, "Anyone else?" Sakura grinned, "Zabuza Momochi and his apprentice Haku. In truth my goal is to make our village as many friends as possible and keep the peace best I can. I can't do that as a front-line brawler/medic nin like I did before. I will still obtain all the skills from my former life but, I need to focus on being good at the game of politics and diplomacy if I'm to have any hope for success."

"Will you share this information with anyone else?" Hiruzen asked critically. Sakura simply stated, "Beware the Root, Hokage-sama. If he finds out I will disappear…he can't be trusted. Unless it is someone I can trust with my life or one of my contacts from my previous life whom I need to ally I keep all of this to myself."

Hiruzen paused a moment and asked almost hesitant, "How is Naruto?" Sakura clarified, "Now or then?" "Both, please." Sakura sighed, "Now he is a horribly neglected boy desperate for friendship, love, and attention. He is being mistreated by the civilians who have worked their way around you S class secret regarding the Kyuubi known as Kurama being caged inside him. I recommend if he fails the academy graduation exam twice due to a faulty clone jutsu that you teach him the Shadow Clone so he can pass on his 3rd chance." She added, "Also keep an eye on merchants and how the try to overprice his goods or simply refuse him service. The only place I know that was consistently kind to him was Ichiraku Ramen. Both the old man and his daughter Ayame have always been kind to Naruto as you have. I can't approach him now for fear of suspicion from others. I have to try and remain as anonymous as possible while still broadcasting my intelligence and chakra control, so my parents allow me to enter academy as they did before."

"Is there anything regarding the Uchiha mess I should know?" Hiruzen pressed and Sakura finished, "Beware the Root for Danzo's greed knows no bounds. Itachi and Shisui will be your greatest allies and you must protect them both and Sasuke with everything you have if you can't save anyone else. Those three must survive!"

Sakura then nodded and moved to complete her workbooks as she returned to the visage of an unassuming child while the room was unsealed, and they returned to their usual. As the day drew to a close Genma and Hayate reported back their mission results from the border to the Hokage before Hayate swept his charge up and headed for home.

Sakura waved cheerfully, "Bye-Bye Hokage-sama, Neko-sama!" Both the Hokage with a smile and the masked Anbu waved the young girl goodbye. As the office came to close for the day Neko escorted the Hokage home and said in a tone deceptively light, "A day full of Surprises hmm?" Hiruzen replied his tone dry, "That Neko, is the understatement of the century."