Tobirama clenched his jaw as Madara slammed his fist down on the table for the 10th time that day. They had been working together for the last hour, surprising both Hashirama and Izuna. The normally stoic Tobirama was agitated, and everyone can see that. Hashirama's eyes softened as he watched his younger brother and his best friend finally working together, all for Sakura's sake.

Hashirama frowned. Watching Sakura getting stabbed had shaken them all. It's been awhile since he's felt that powerless; the last time was when he found out Itama died in the hands of the enemy. It felt odd to feel this way about someone other than family. Even when he didn't see her for days, she was all he could think about. Before he knew it, he had gotten attached to her, much like the other guys. Every time he saw her, he learned more about who Haruno Sakura was and he was never disappointed. He felt like he could never learn enough. How did it happen? How had she settled inside of him so deep that the thought of losing her made him utterly terrified. Hashirama gasped and suddenly stood up. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at him with arched eyebrows.

"I think I might be in love with Sakura," he whispered, his eyes catching Madara's. Madara snorted and crossed his arms, smirking at his friend.

"Congratulations for stating the obvious. Now can we get back to figuring out how to deal with the problem?" he dismissed his friend. Hashirama's jaw slackened and a cloud of gloom appeared on top of him as he hung his head.

"Madaraaaa," he whined. Tobirama scoffed while Izuna giggled.

"Who would've thought you'd be the last to figure it out," Izuna quipped.

"I did," Tobirama said firmly, causing Hashirama to hang his head again. After a moment he looked back up towards the other guys and smiled softly.

—-

Groaning, Sakura blinked her eyes open, wincing at the bright lights shining above her.

"Sakura!" Sakura slowly turned her head towards the familiar voices, smiling weakly when she saw Kagura, Touka and Mito beside her.

"Don't scare us like that," Touka whined, her brows creased. Kagura and Mito nodded.

"Sorry guys. Next time I plan to get ambushed and stabbed, I'll give you a little warning," she teased, her lips tilting to a smirk. They all let out a chuckle as the tension in the air lifted. Suddenly, Sakura remembered her escorts.

"Is Ryu-san and Daichi-san okay?" she asked worriedly. The last thing she remembered was getting separated from them after healing Ryu from a stab wound, and then collapsing from blood loss. Sakura hopes that her boys got there in time to help them.

"They're fine. A little banged up but they'll be good as new. They'll be happy to know you're finally awake. Especially them," Kagura remarked with a smirk. Sakura tilted her head in question, which caused Kagura to smile even wider with her eyes closed.

"I've never seen Hashi and Tobi so agitated before, not even when we fought in the war. You really scared them Sakura," Touka said softly.

"Mhm. Madara and Izuna had been insufferable as well, Madara specially," Kagura added. Sakura looked down at her hands while thinking about what they said. She can't blame them since they practically witnessed her getting stabbed. That was the first time they'd seen her byakugou seal in action and it makes sense that they probably thought they witnessed her death.

"They may be the pillars of Konoha, but you are the foundation that holds them together, you know. It's no wonder they're acting the way they are now with you being targeted," Touka said. Sakura whipped her head up, eyes wide.

"What did you say?" she asked softly.

"It seems that you're being targeted by the Shimura clan," Touka said in a growl.

"No, not that, the other part," Sakura said, shaking her head.

"That they are the pillars of Konoha and you hold them together?" Touka arched an eyebrow at the pinkette.

"You will be in despair, but you will persevere. You shall find a place within the four pillars"

The words from the goddess echoed in her mind. Could that be what she meant? Find a place within the four pillars? Sakura thought it meant her finding a place within Konoha. Could it all be connected somehow, with her falling in love with the four of them and the goddesses' words? Sakura closed her eyes shut and hung her head. She vaguely the footsteps.

"Sakura,"

Sakura opened her eyes to Madara's familiar voice, its low timbre caressing her skin like it normally does.

"Sakura, you're awake, thank god," Izuna strode in, engulfing her in a hug. Sakura couldn't help the sigh of relief as she hugged Izuna back, burying her face in the crook of his neck and inhaling his familiar, masculine scent.

Madara cleared his throat next to them. "Izuna, let Sakura breathe," he grumbled. Sakura giggled and smiled up at him, her eyes shiny with unshed tears. Madara's face softened and smiled softly back at her. He traced her cheeks with the backs of his knuckles, the softness of his touch making her breath hitch. Another clearing of a throat had them turning their heads in that direction. Tobirama stood there on the other side of the bed, Hashirama next to him with a bouquet of flowers in hand. His face lit up when their eyes met. He placed the flowers in Tobirama's hands as he practically swallowed Sakura into a hug. Sakura squealed as she fell backwards with Hashirama on top of her, but returned the hug with the same intensity. He nuzzled the crook of her neck, whispering to her ear about how she scared the living daylights out of him. She smiled into the hug, her eyes meeting Tobirama's.

Tobirama's jaw clenched, his hold on the flowers tightening. Sakura noticed and lightly tapped Hashirama to let her go. Reluctantly, he released her and helped her back into a sitting position. She tilted her head with creased brows as she waited.

"Tobirama?" she says softly. He walked forward and placed the flowers on her lap, his free hand grabbing the back of her neck as he brought their foreheads together to touch. With a deep inhale, he moved his head to rest on top of her shoulders. Sakura's body relaxed, her face softening as she felt Tobirama shudder out a breath. As if realizing he had an audience, he immediately stood back up and cleared his throat, looking off to the side as the other males looked at him with knowing gazes.

—-

That night, she dreamt about her original boys, the old team 7.

"Sakura-chan!" screeched a 12 year old Naruto She smiled and waved.

"Naruto! Sasuke-kun!" she ran up to them and gave them a big hug. The second she had both boys in her arms, she began to cry, finally letting out the pent-up sorrow she's been holding on to since their death.

"What's gotten into you?" asked Sasuke, but he stayed still, his one hand rubbing her back.

"I miss you guys," she sniffled as she pulled back. The boys looked at each other before looking back at Sakura with soft smiles on their faces.

"I know, Sakura-chan, but you're strong! You'll be fine! Besides, you have them. They'll take care of you," Naruto said with a wide grin.

"T-them?!" she stumbled, her hands waving wildly in front of her. Sasuke scoffed and arched his eyebrows at her while Naruto laughed.

"They're good for you, Sakura-chan. We've been watching and they seem to really care about you. It makes me feel better knowing you're not alone," he said. Sasuke nodded in agreement.

"You had to fall in love with someone that looks like me," Sasuke grumbled, crossing his arms and looking off to the side. Sakura hugged Sasuke one more time, placing a kiss on his cheeks. She couldn't help it, she had a thing for Sasuke and Sasuke-look alikes and their pouting faces. Sasuke blushed but didn't push her away.

"Don't be jealous, Sasuke-kun. Besides, you'll alway be my first love," she smiled softly at him. He looked back at her, his smile showing regret and longing as he caressed her cheeks.

"Thank you, Sakura," he said softly. They were interrupted with a cough and a few gagging noises coming from the blonde.

"Are you guys done? Is this how it would've been if you two ended up together? Gross, all lovey dovey," he mocked and gagged some more. Sakura glared at him but then frowned, his words sinking in. Naruto noticed and placed a hand on top of her shoulders.

"Don't dwell on what could've been and the what if's, Sakura-chan. Everything happens for a reason. You deserve to be happy and move on, we'll be fine," he said with a smile.

"Sakura, I…," started Sasuke. Sakura's eyes widened as she saw the both of them transforming to their older selves, looking exactly the same when she last saw them. She looked down at herself and found she also transformed.

"All I ever did was hurt you and made you cry. I didn't deserve your love and forgiveness," Sasuke began, bringing his hand up to cut her off when she was about to say something.

"I would've spent my whole life trying to make it up to you, but it still wouldn't have been enough. I wouldn't have been able to give you the love you deserved," Sasuke stepped forward and held onto her hands. "But they can give you what I could not. They will make you happy," Sasuke smiled, bringing his hands up and poking her forehead with his middle and pointer finger. Sakura covered her forehead, watching Sasuke with teary eyes.

"We're so proud of you Sakura-chan," added Naruto. Both boys stepped back and looked at her one last time before they began to disappear. Sakura began to panic, not wanting the time with her boys to end, but as they both looked at her with smiling faces, she couldn't help but smile back, tears streaming down her face. She watched as they disappeared completely before everything went black.