Everyone around the Senju compound was bustling, busy with the preparations for their New Year's celebration. Despite being a girl, Sakura found herself on the men's side, helping Hashirama and Tobirama with their chores. Butsuma had tried to pry her away from the older boy but she would always come back until he gave up. The trio was currently slaughtering a pig, with the boys doing most of the job while she watched them. "Are you gonna stand there while we do all the work?" Tobirama asked as he finished tying the pig in place. The soon-to-be-nine Sakura blushed as she scracted the side of her head.
"Tobi, did you see where I put the knife?" the thirteen-year old Senju heir apparent asked. "Did you even look for it?" the white haired ninja replied. "I'm sure I had it. Let me check at the kitchen. I'll be back," the brunette said as he rushed off to the kitchen. Tobirama rolled his eyes as he produced the knife from his pocket. Sakura decided against commenting, not wanting to face the wrath of the Senju. "Come here," he told her. She made her way to him. "Hold these in place as firm as you can," he said as he handed her the ropes. The girl took the ropes awkwardly in her hands, not sure what to do. The eleven year old boy rolled his eyes and moved to stand behind her.
He took her hands in his and showed her how to hold the ropes. "Make sure not to let them go, you understand?" he said as he moved back to pig. Sakura nodded her head vigorously, trying hard to ignore the close proximity from earlier or the blush on her face. The younger Senju didn't give her a warning and cut the neck of the pig in one swift motion. The pig jerked backwards, knocking Sakura back and onto the ground, its blood spraying all over her clothes. Tobirama had put some of his chakra to dull some of its nerves. It dropped dead on the ground.
He looked at Sakura to see her staring at her hands which were covered in blood. They were slightly trembling. His eyes widened for a fraction as he watched start to take uneven breaths, her chakra spirally out of control.
Her hands were covered in blood. They were covered in Ino's blood. They were covered with all the patients' blood she had healed at the hospital, who had been killed anyways by the Madara and Itachi's fireball jutsu.
She saw her parents' blood leaking out of the slab of stone which had collapsed on them.
She saw Kakashi's battered body after Izumo and Kotetsu had retrieved him from the battleground he had been up against Madara.
She saw the blood of countless shinobi and civilians who had received the most brutal attacks, their bodies lying on the ground and tainting the ground a permanent red.
She saw blood everywhere-
"Breathe Sakura!"
She snapped out of whatever trance she was in. Tobirama was crouched in front of her, his features scrunched up in concern. Her vision was blurry from the tears cascading down her cheeks. The white haired Senju held his hands in hers, as if to comfort her. "I..." she croaked out. She didn't finish as her chest continued to contract in pain.
When Tobirama first met Sakura, he thought of her as a simple war captive who had been captured among one of his clan's aimless raids. When she began to grow closer to his brothers, he ignored her knowing that it was probably a plot for her to live a good life despite being a captive, a gold digger's plot, he had thought. And so he ignored her like she didn't exist for the past four years knowing she was going to die either way until now. He had only seen retired shinobis of high calibers experience panic attacks of this degree. The war left them with post-traumatic stress disorder. Seeing a girl of her age experience a panic attack like she was a war veteran shocked him.
Just what had she seen that scared her so much? Was it their raid? He had never seen the other war captives having panic attacks. It piqued his interest immensely. Watching her try to calm herself down made him pity her. Just the sight of blood was enough to drive her over the edge. He had heard the other captives speaking how she had nightmares on a daily basis. They had been loud during the first years until they quietned down but they never stopped. He had ignored it until now where he witnessed it first hand.
"Sakura-chan!"
Hashirama rushed over to her, dropping the knife he had brought with him. When her eyes landed on his older brother, her tears seemed to increase tenfold. "Hashirama," she cried out as her breathing began to quicken again. "I'm here. Don't worry," the brunette comforted her as he held her in an embrace while the girl cried herself out, hugging him tightly. Tobirama left the two of them to give them privacy, his head spinning in curiosity who his brother's friend was.
Sakura and Hashirama had snuck away from the festivities an hour before midnight. They had promised to meet up with Madara. Hashirama held Sakura's hand as they walked towards the river. Ever since her panic attack in the afternoon, she had refused to leave his side since then. He didn't ask Tobirama what happened, there was no need to as he figured that the sight of blood had caused her that. There had been one time when he has accidentally cut his hand with a kunai, drawing a bit of blood. She had frozen and he quickly wiped it off on his shirt before she had calmed down. Thus he learned to never make her see blood.
"Did Tobirama apologize?" he asked. "No, it's not like he cares anyway," she muttered. Hashirama decided against commenting. Soon, the duo found themselves at the river. Madara was on the other side, sitting cross legged on the river bank. "Madara!" he waved at the dark haired boy as he dragged Sakura behind him. "Madara-chaaan!" Sakura sang as she removed her hand from Hashirama's, dashing past him and crossing the river using chakra.
Madara had just stood up and the pinkette captured him into a hug, knocking the both of them down. "I missed you," she said as she nuzzled her head against his chest. The boy rolled his eyes as he let out a sigh of exasperation. He moved to sit up, with Sakura still embracing him. "Missed you too, you little midget," he said, a small smile gracing his face. Hashirama was still on the other side of the bank, watching the two exchange greetings with each other affectionately. He ignored the tight burning in his chest. "I'm not jealous, I'm not jealous. I'm happy that my friends are happy," he muttered to himself repeatedly. He stared down at his feet, his eyes starting to sting. He was not going to cry.
"Hashirama!"
His head snapped up as Sakura called his name. The two were watching him with curiosity etched on their faces. "Why are you still doing over there? Come on!" she shouted again as she waved him over. "Don't be a crybaby," Madara called out to him whilst smirking. That sobered him up. "I'm no crybaby!" he defended himself as he made his way over to them. "What took you so long?" the pinkette asked as she gave him a once over. "Nothing, just thinking some stuff," he said with a nervous smile as he rubbed the back of his head. He ignored Madara's knowing look and smirk.
"So did you bring it?" Madara asked. "Yup, show it to him Hashirama. I made sure that they have special effects when they explode!" the girl squealed with barely contained glee. The Senju took out a scroll, placed it on the ground and unsealed the firecrackers from the scroll. Sakura had already gathered sticks to support the firecrackers before they rocketed into the sky. The trio fixed the firecrackers in place. Madara lit up fire chakra on his hand. "Just so you know, you guys are important to me. As we enter into a new year, we'll continue to be friends forever and stop this war together," the dark-haired boy said as he lighted the firecrackers.
"Awwww, that's so cute!" Sakura squealed as she tackled him into another hug. Luckily this time, he did not fall. "You've grown up," Hashirama said as he wiped away imaginary tears. Madara rolled his eyes.
The time was exactly 12 midnight as the firecrackers rocketed into the skyx exploding in colors of pink, green and blue. The trio watched the firecrackers with awe as they formed pink cherry blossoms, green leaves and blue dots. Even though they were during a time of war and the firecrackers could immediately alert the enemy of their presence, just this once they allowed themselves to be free. To be children and enjoy their childhood as much as they can.
As Hashirama watched the firecrackers, he felt a warm hand wrap around his. He looked at Sakura, his mouth slightly agape in shock. She had never been one to insinuate physical contact with him. Sakura was still looking at the sky but as she turned to look at him with the best smile she could put on, he understood what she was saying.
She was grateful.
Happy New Year!!!
Well, at least in my country it is. This is your New Year's gift. Hope you enjoy it.
Tozoonana
AfricanFire.
