Sakura (Older)

They were surprised at what Shikamaru had just said. Sakura, who was seated next to Naruto, pressed her lips together and then looked down at the floor and wondered if it was the right thing to do. They had come back to the past to change things and the way to do that was to tell their younger selves about what was about to happen in the future and why, in fact, there was a need to change the timeline. She glanced at Naruto staring at the floor as well, his hands rolled into fists as they rested on his knees, she then glanced at Kakashi and Asuma glancing at each other before they turned towards Tsunade who was frowning with a contemplative look on her face. Sakura then looked back towards the floor, 'we want things to change, but we want to manage the changes. That was my idea. We need to make the changes manageable so that we could predict what would happen in the near future… at least until the Sound invades.'

Sakura then sighed when she heard Shikamaru's voice, "and you know why Sakura, Tsunade-sama."

Sakura looked up and at Shikamaru, along with Tsunade who "hmmm-ed" before turning her head towards Naruto who was shaking his head. Sakura then turned towards Shikamaru again, 'if we tell our younger selves the truth about what happened in the future; the information may slip out and our enemies will figure out that something happened during this mission. That information could go back to Danzo and Orochimaru.'

While Sakura was deep in thought, Shikamaru continued, "Even if our younger selves swear not to tell anyone what happened, there will be some changes in their attitudes."

Sakura then picked up the conversation as she looked back towards Naruto who was now looking at her, "they'll start acting differently. It could be something small but… but you know you and Sasuke-kun are being watched by Root. Someone could slip and it could go back to Danzo."

"I…."

"And you know how you were at this age, Naruto," Sakura said gently leaning forward with her hands on her knees, "the younger you will slip and say something he's not supposed to say."

"And your younger self has already slipped," Tsunade was now speaking towards Naruto, her voice causing the blonde Jinchuriki to turn towards her, "Kakashi told him not to reveal information about you and Sakura."

"Oh man, he didn't…? Did he?" Naruto slapped his forehead in disbelief as Kakashi chuckled. Naruto then groaned out, "he did... mini-me did..."

"He did," the one eyed Jonin confirmed as Asuma frowned while looking down at the floor, "I agree. The younger Team Seven will have to have their minds wiped." He then turned towards Asuma just as Shikamaru did before the latter spoke up.

"Choji and Ino will need their memories erased too, Sensei," Shikamaru said before Asuma sighed, "I trust Choji and Ino with my life… but the way the two of them are now? As their younger selves? I know they will be burdened with this information. And I know Ino will slip…" Asuma's frown deepened before the Nara continued, "we've been teammates for years and I know her younger self will not be able to keep this secret. And then there is Inoichi-san, you know the Yamanaka clan tests each other at unexpected times to make sure their mental shields are at top shape. And this is something that Ino can't hide… not yet."

Asuma straightened his back and rubbed the back of his neck while saying, "and how do we wipe their minds?"

That was a question Sakura still did not have an answer for. She guessed that the Yamanaka clan's help would be needed to procure a jutsu that would wipe the minds of their friends, but that would mean telling Yamanaka Inoichi the reason why they need the jutsu. Thus defeating the purpose for secrecy. And so far, it would be better if as few people as possible knew the truth about herself, Naruto, Shikamaru, and Tsunade.

Everyone was silently thinking for a moment before Kakashi spoke up, "memory erasing seals." Sakura looked over to her Sensei and narrowed her eyes in confusion. These seals were something she hadn't heard about, which meant this jutsu was a forbidden jutsu or classified for use by certain individuals.

Kakashi then reached into his hip pouch and took out four small rolled scrolls and then placed them on the mat in front of him. Sakura glanced at them and then at Tsunade who was rubbing her chin while nodding her head. It was then that Kakashi said, "it's a seal normally used by Anbu captains to wipe out memories of any collateral subjects in the event a mission is compromised or if there are witnesses to certain acts," Kakashi said as he crossed his arms over his chest. Sakura guessed that the 'certain acts' Kakashi referred to were most likely assassination missions. She returned her focus to what the grey haired Jonin was saying, "Usually we place the seal on the forehead of the subject."

"And you carry this with you all the time?" Asuma asked with a deadpanned expression.

Kakashi then shrugged his shoulders before saying, "it's a force of habit." He then looked down at the small scrolls and continued to say, "I only have these four; two for my team and two for yours."

Asuma then sighed while looking down at the scrolls before rubbing the back of his head, "For Ino and Choji." Sakura listened as Kakashi said that he would use the two scrolls on both Sasuke and Naruto while using his Sharingan on the younger Sakura. The Older Sakura's face and shoulders fell forward when Kakashi turned to her with a chuckle and said that her younger version would be easier to manipulate using the Sharingan's genjutsu capability. And Sakura sighed before nodding her head, she knew that she was impressionable at that age. And so, a genjutsu placed on her memories would work well without her knowing about it.

Sakura then sighed again before glancing over at Naruto who was leaning forwards while rubbing his hands… his eyes still on the floor. She wondered what he was thinking about before looking over at Tsunade who was looking back at her. Sakura then asked, "what do we do after wiping their minds?"

Shikamaru was rubbing his chin and humming, "hmmmmm" before leaning forward to say, "what happens after the memory erasing seal is used, Kakashi-sensei?"

"The target loses consciousness for a few hours," Kakashi said, "it's like they took a long nap and for the first few minutes upon waking up, the target is receptive to any cover story

"Then that's what we'll do," Tsunade agreed before turning towards Shikamaru, "just act normal when you return to the village, Shikamaru." Tsunade told him not to say anything to the Sandaime. And before Asuma would get a word in about hiding information from the Third Hokage, Tsunade clarified, "there are spies in the Hokage tower. I don't want any one of them reporting to Danzo about what happened in the Land of Waves."

Asuma pressed his lips together and nodded his head. Tsunade continued, "I don't trust Danzo. He will release this information to Orochimaru, and as a result he could delay the invasion."

"We need the invasion to go just as it's supposed to," Sakura said while her eyes moved from Kakashi to Asuma to a nodding Shikamaru to Naruto – the latter still had his lips pressed together. Sakura knew that Naruto wasn't fond of what they were talking about and made a mental note to talk to him about it in private. She then continued to say, "if we make changes that diverge too far from what we know happened before the Chuunin Exams… then we would be blind in the short term."

Naruto then looked up at her. Sakura returned his look, their eyes locked together as she said, "I don't like it either, Naruto. I'm uneasy too about not telling the Sandaime about the invasion, but the time is too short between now and the exams for us to have some other alternative." Sakura gave him a small smile that she hoped would comfort him slightly as she continued, "you know that the failed invasion creates a bond between Suna and Konoha. It's the same bond that is created between you and Gaara."

Naruto then sighed as he rubbed the back of his head before saying, "maybe you guys are right." Sakura nodded her head with a gentle smile while Naruto said, "we'll need to save people... at least prevent the walls from being breached." Naruto then shifted his eyes towards Asuma and said, "Sandaime-Jiji won't die, Asuma-sensei. Not this time."

Kakashi glanced at Asuma. Sakura guessed that he could feel the unease of his friend, but she knew this was the best thing to do for now. They had information on the future, and the use of that information was dependent on the future moving as close to the one that Shikamaru, Tsunade, and the older Sakura and Naruto came from.

Kakashi then leaned back and said, "then this would have to be done as soon as possible." He turned his head towards Asuma and continued, "if we're gonna go our separate ways as if nothing happened, we need to make sure that your team reaches Konoha before my team."

"It would be strange seeing both our teams coming back together," Asuma nodded his head in agreement before he looked over towards Tsunade, "so only Shikamaru and I will know the truth?"

"For now," Tsunade said leaning forward, "the two of you will have to keep what you know hidden away from everyone. At least until the exams."

"Plus, we have to make up the time we missed, so we can't use the seals now," Shikamaru piped in as he glanced at Asuma, "unless you want to be the one carrying Choji all the way back to the mainland." He then shrugged at the scowl Asuma was sending his way before saying, "it would be troublesome."

"What do we do until then?" Naruto asked, his focus on Tsunade.

Tsunade was deep in thought for a few seconds before shaking her head, "I'll need to think about that." She then shifted her gaze towards Shikamaru, "for now Naruto, Sakura, and I are not heading back to Konoha." She turned her attention to Kakashi who nodded his head, "you know what to do, Asuma, Kakashi. Kakashi, we will stay here for a few days so that we could provide medical aid to the people. Then after we leave, you need to use the scrolls on the kids."

"Understood," Kakashi said.

"We'll be back in Konoha within the exam period," Tsunade said. It was then that Sakura hoped that they would be able to return to Konoha before Sasuke was given the Heaven Seal by Orochimaru. That was the very incident that led Sasuke on to a darker path. She also had to wonder what they could do if the return was planned for after the second phase of the exam. Sakura then looked up at Naruto and she could tell he was having the same thoughts as well. It was something they needed to talk about without Asuma, Kakashi, and the younger versions of herself and Naruto being present.

Sakura was pulled out of her thoughts when Asuma pointed out, "but the Sandaime has to be told immediately after the three of you return." After Tsunade nodded her head, Asuma then continued before chuckling, "dad would be surprised to see you back in the village willingly, Tsunade-sama."

Tsunade smiled before nodding her head. She then said, "alright then, Asuma; get your kids and return to Konoha. Shizune, the two Sakuras, and I can help with the medical needs here while Sasuke and Naruto patrol the area."

But before anyone could get up onto their feet after the obvious dismissal, Tsunade said, "I'd like Naruto and Sakura to remain here. I want to talk to them in private."

Sakura felt her blood freeze at the slight change of tone in Tsunade's voice. She glanced at Kakashi and the others who nodded their heads before getting up and then walking away. Once they left the room, Sakura recalled the last time she heard that tone in her mentor's voice, 'the day when I told her about telling Naruto that I loved him.' That day, Tsunade had asked Sakura if she lied, and all the latter could say was that she thought it was the right thing to do at the time. 'And then she verbally tore me a new one.' Sakura felt sick at the thought of that day. She then took a deep breath as the door to the room closed and she and Tsunade looked at each other, 'this time I meant it for the right reasons.'

"Baa-chan, what's up?" Naruto asked Tsunade while Sakura looked at her and gulped. The latter had said earlier that she 'saw' Sakura telling Naruto that she loved him while they were in that strange time-travel tunnel. And now, Sakura was certain Tsunade had certain things she needed to get off her chest.

Sakura shimmied on the floor until she was seated across from Tsunade and motioned at Naruto to do the same. The blonde Jinchuriki moved until he was seated next to Sakura – both of them facing Tsunade – and then said if she knew what they were going to do for the next few months before returning to Konoha during the second phase of the Chuunin exams.

Tsunade

"No, but we can deal with that once I've dealt with this…" Tsunade waved her hand at the two of them, "I heard what Sakura told you in that tunnel… place…. Whatever that was when we travelling back in time." Tsunade waved her arms about while recalling when Sakura walked into her office a day after she regained consciousness and fully recovered her chakra following Pein's invasion. Tsunade could recall going off on Sakura and barking at her how stupid it was to use deceptive words in the Land of Iron to get Naruto to stop his attempts at dragging Sasuke back to the village. Tsunade remembered breaking her desk into tiny pieces during her outburst at the then horrified Sakura.

It took Tsunade a few days to calm down before calling Sakura back into her office to tell her second apprentice not to lie in such a way to Naruto ever again. After that warning, it was only a month later that Naruto left for Lightning Country with him and Sakura on good terms.

"Oh," Naruto whispered before he turned his head towards Sakura who was looking down at Naruto's hands before raising her head towards his eyes. Naruto smiled at her before turning his head towards Tsunade and saying, "baa-chan…"

"Sakura," Tsunade held her hand up at Naruto, signalling him to stop talking. She was staring directly at the pink-haired girl and continued, "explain." She knew that Naruto loved Sakura, it was one of four constants in his life with the other being able to eat ramen, his wanting to be the Hokage, and bringing Sasuke back to the village. Tsunade knew that Naruto's view of Sakura was always going to be coloured through rose tinted glasses; but this time there was going to be no nonsense. Tsunade wanted to know what changed between them from the incident at the Land of Iron to now.

"What changed between the time at the Land of Iron and now that you could say such a thing freely?" Tsunade said as Sakura stiffened, her expression stoic with still a hint of fear. Tsunade then added, "what were you thinking?"

Sakura sighed before she looked over at Naruto and said, "it was only the two of us, Tsunade-sama." Tsunade nodded her head, signalling Sakura to continue as the pink haired girl looked back towards her, "in the end, it was only the two of us facing Kaguya."

"A monster that would have ended the world, Baa-chan."

Tsunade then curtly said "go on" while her eyes remained on Sakura.

"Kakashi-sensei died," Sakura whispered shaking her head, "Sasuke-kun died. You, Shikamaru, all our friends and family were trapped in those cocoons." Sakura then looked away from Tsunade and down onto the tatami mat they were sitting on, "all of you could very well be dead."

"Baa-chan," Naruto whispered as he placed his hand on top of Sakura's hand which was resting on her knee, "everyone we knew was gone. Dad and the other Edo-Tensei Hokage were the only ones left, oh and there were the ghosts of the previous Hokages too. But they were gone a few minutes after the old Sage brought us back to Earth."

Tsunade couldn't imagine something like that as her eyes shifted between Naruto and Sakura; the latter turning her head towards Naruto before looking at Sakura once again.

"When I thought we were done…"

"And this was before the Sage told you what he was up to? About the time travel, I mean?" Tsunade asked Naruto.

"Yea," Naruto answered.

"Kaguya was about to kill us," Sakura whispered before taking a deep breath and then speaking again, "she was coming towards us and… and then I saw my whole life flash before my eyes." Sakura formed a small smile as she looked back towards the mat and said, "Despite everything I said and did, Naruto was always there for me. For everything, he supported me. He cared about me." Sakura then looked up at Tsunade and continued, "over time… even without knowing it, he started to take a place here…" Sakura then placed a hand on her chest and whispered, "in my heart. In that one second I saw everything so clearly."

Tsunade was looking for some kind of deception from Sakura while Naruto remained silent holding her hand. Tsunade had not found any. Instead, now she was seeing quiet determination on Sakura's face.

"I know how I acted especially when it involved Sasuke-kun," Sakura said, "and I still love and care for him." Sakura then turned her head towards Naruto and whispered, "I didn't realize until my life flashed when Kaguya was about to end us that I have deep feelings about Naruto." She then looked towards Tsunade and said, "I know what I said at the Land of Iron was… I mean... it was wrong since I said it for the wrong reasons. I admit I did something that was wrong… I used Naruto's feelings for me to get him to stop going after Sasuke-kun and… and I shouldn't have done that. It will be my biggest regret." Sakura then looked at Naruto, "that doesn't make my feelings anything less; not after nearly losing him to Kaguya."

Sakura then turned back towards Naruto and nodded her head, "I meant what I said."

Naruto grinned with a blush on his cheeks before turning his head towards Tsunade and saying, "And you know how I feel about her, baa-chan."

"I know about loss," Tsunade said after releasing a sigh. She stopped and went deep into thought as she recalled her grandfather, her brother, then her lover, and then her Sensei, followed by Orochimaru, and then Jiraiya. She still could recall the day the perverted toad sage left for Amegakure. She could still recall the drinks and food they shared the previous night at the restaurant. She could still recall the toad Sannin walking away with a wave. And then there came news that he died. Tsunade was stunned… she felt a large piece of her heart shattering. She always thought that of all the people in her life, Jiraiya would always be there by her side.

'Until he wasn't.'

And the last time Tsunade could remember weeping like she did upon returning home after hearing the news of Jiraiya's death was when Nawaki and Dan died.

Who was she to say anything about love? That's what Tsunade thought to herself whilst being aware that there was a part of her that cared for Jiraiya. It was a part of her heart she shared with Dan. It had always existed despite her frequent refusals of Jiraiya's date requests. And she would never have realized that she did indeed love him if he had not died… and that was something that continued to break Tsunade's heart. Even now.

'And now, he's alive.' Tsunade shook her head and returned to the present where Sakura and Naruto were staring at her with worried looks. 'I can figure out what to do about the pervert at another time.'

Tsunade then sighed once again before saying, "Sakura, what would you have done If Sasuke made it through?"

"Shishou, if Sasuke-kun made it through, then we wouldn't be here," Sakura said honestly as Naruto nodded his head, "and… and I honestly – even after finally knowing how I feel… truly feel… about Naruto - cannot tell you what I would have done if Sasuke-kun was alive."

Tsunade stared into Sakura's eyes before nodding at the answer. The blonde then said, "don't play with his feelings again."

"I won't," Sakura said without hesitation.

"Naruto," Tsunade turned her head towards the blonde, "the two of you take it slow. This is a new life, so you need to see things with new eyes. Spend the time away from Konoha to get to know one another again."

Tsunade then leaned back before resting the palms of her hands on the floor behind her and continued, "to be honest, it will be difficult for the both of you to be in a relationship." Tsunade could see that Sakura and Naruto were about to speak. Instead, she told them to shut up and listen before interrupting. After they nodded their heads, Tsunade continued "the two of you are strong-willed, stubborn, and opinionated. I can see the two of you butting heads far often than not." She pressed her lips together as Sakura and Naruto looked at each other, "the both of you will have to learn to compromise as you learn about each other. And it will be tough."

"This is my first girlfriend," Naruto chuckled turning his head towards Tsunade while rubbing the back of his head.

"And just so you know," Sakura said as she turned towards Naruto, "I haven't dated anyone."

"Really?" Naruto asked as Tsunade chuckled.

"See, you're getting to know each other."

Sakura chuckled at Tsunade's words before saying, "so no, I haven't had a boyfriend. But maybe Tsunade-sama is right and we take our time."

Sakura and Naruto then blushed while they stared at each other. After a few seconds, the two of them broke out in laughter while Tsunade formed a small smile on her face, 'I know you love her, Naruto. But I did not expect that Sakura would love you back, especially with her attitude towards Sasuke.' Tsunade sat up straight as Sakura and Naruto's laughs trailed off before they turned towards their leader, 'I don't know what it would be like between the two of you… all I know is that it would be difficult. But if you two can make it work, then this spark of light between you two would could very well grow to be something amazing.'

"Work at it, the both of you."

"Yes, ma'am," both Sakura and Naruto said.

"Alright then," Tsunade said before clapping her hands, "now, let's get out there and help this village while I think about our next steps."

Sakura (Younger), a few minutes earlier.

'He died… Sasuke-kun died,' Sakura was thinking to herself as she walked alongside Ino who was walking alongside Choji. The latter had an unopened bag of potato chips in his hand, but he was making no move to open it. 'Choji's stunned too,' Sakura thought as she continued watching the wooded walkway beneath their feet while they continued walking, 'even Ino-pig is so stunned that she's been keeping…' It was then that Sakura glanced at Ino and her mind just stopped working at the expression on the latter's face. It was one of deep thought before Ino looked over her shoulder and behind them. Sakura looked back over her shoulder to Sasuke – the boy still stunned about the fate of his future self– walking next to Naruto with his hands in his pockets.

Sakura wanted to comfort him – at least walk by his side – but felt it would be best to let him have his peace. After all, she didn't want to crowd him, 'I'll ask him about how he's feeling later. After all we'll have the rest of our lives together.' Her eyes then went towards Naruto who was looking out at the water while his hands were stuffed in his own pockets. She was still angry at him… the humiliation of Naruto transforming into Sasuke and taking advantage of her vulnerability was in the forefront of her mind. Looking away, she then glared at Ino who was now staring back down at the walkway while rubbing her chin.

'She's coming up with some plan to try and take Sasuke-kun away from me,' Sakura thought to herself. How she wanted to hold Sasuke's hand right now, 'patience, Sakura… patience. He already said he'll think about what I said, so there's no need to crowd him now.' Still Sakura couldn't help but wonder what had Ino so deep into her thoughts that she suddenly stopped walking as her eyes went wide open. Sakura knew that look… it was a look that yelled out Ino had thought of something; perhaps Ino remembered an embarrassing secret that could be used against her. 'No… she's going to tell Sasuke-kun something about me, I can't…'

But just as Sasuke, Naruto, and Choji stopped walking at Ino's sudden halt, Sakura heard Ino whisper to herself, "how didn't I see it before?" Sakura narrowed her eyes at Ino who stopped and then immediately spun around and stared at both Sasuke and Naruto and whispered, "how did no one see it? He and daddy were friends. I saw their pictures together."

"Ino? Is everything okay?" Choji asked. At his voice, both Tazuna and Shizune – the latter holding TonTon – also stopped and turned around.

"Is everything alright?" Shizune asked as Sakura watched Ino turned her head towards Naruto. Sakura watched Ino staring at Naruto who said, "Ino?" before the aforementioned girl then turned her head towards Tazuna's home. Sakura stared at Tazuna's home and then at Ino while Shizune was asking if they were feeling unwell. Before Sakura could call out Ino for being so melodramatic in her attempt to lure Sasuke away from her, the blonde girl looked back towards Naruto again.

And it was what Ino said next – with a smirk forming on her face – that had every one of the Genin stunned silent.

"Hey, Naruto, after we return to the village, you're taking me out on a date."

Everyone was so silent that one could hear the fishes swimming in the still water underneath the walkway. Even Tazuna was a bit surprised at Ino's assertiveness while Shizune and TonTon sighed. It would be a few seconds later that a confused Shizune – who was still a stranger to the people around her on the walkway - broke the silence by saying, "that's sweet?"

"Huh?" Choji gawked while staring opened mouthed, an uneaten potato chip in his right hand, at the still smirking Ino who had her hands on her hips while arching an eyebrow at Naruto. And it was the bright blonde haired Shinobi who stood staring at Ino with his jaw hanging open like a goldfish.

"Wha... Wha... What?" Naruto then whispered.

"Congrats?" Sasuke spoke with an air indifference as he shrugged his shoulders while staring at Naruto.

"What?!" Sakura exclaimed as she stared at Ino and then at Naruto, and then at Ino once again, "Naruto? Really?" Sakura then turned back towards Naruto who looked hurt as he stared at her while she exclaimed, "she's just trying to get to Sasuke-kun by going through you, and…."

"Let's take it easy before we say something that we regret," Choji rushed between Sakura and Ino as they turned towards each other – the two of them snarling.

At the same time, Sasuke and Naruto looked at each other and then at both Ino and Sakura who were inches away from their faces touching. Sakura didn't know what Ino was playing at… but she suspected it had something to do with Sasuke. It had to be Sasuke… why else would she even want to go on a date – much less lunch – with Naruto. 'I mean, come on, of all people Naruto?' Sakura rolled her hands into fists while Ino's arms were hanging by her side.

"I know something you don't," Ino whispered at Sakura – just enough so that Naruto and Sasuke could not hear her - who just glared at her. She saw Ino's smirk grow, "I guess you can have Sasuke-kun for now." Sakura lowered her jaw in surprise as she watched Ino turn towards Naruto and say, "It's a date, Naruto. Which means you pay."

"Ummm…." Naruto said while rubbing the back of his neck. Sakura could only turn her head towards Naruto while wondering what it was that Ino knew about him. But before Naruto could say anything, Sakura saw Ino looking over the shoulders of both Naruto and Sasuke. Sakura turned her head in the direction Ino was staring and was surprised to find Asuma, Shikamaru, and Kakashi walking towards them after having left Tazuna's home.

'Where's the older me, Tsunade-sama, and Naruto?' Sakura wondered before her attention returned to Ino who was smirking at Naruto while one arm hung by her side and the other hand was resting on her waist.

"Sakura-chan? What do I do?" a nervous Naruto asked her. She turned towards the blonde and her mind immediately turned to the fact that she now had an uninterrupted pathway towards Sasuke. And there would be no Naruto to bother her or get in her way. And that was if Ino didn't kill Naruto for being annoying.

So Sakura raised her hands and stepped back while saying, "I already told you that I won't have that kind of a relationship with you." Sakura watched as Naruto looked away defeated before he turned towards Ino.

"Alright, Ino-chan," Naruto blushed while rubbing the back of his head as Sasuke and Choji looked on in surprise just as Shikamaru and the others met up with them, "it's a date then I guess."

TBC.