Chapter Thirty-seven: The Neo-Sannin
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During the three weeks that Shisui, Sakura, Naruto and Jiraiya left Konoha, Kakashi escorted Sasori back to Sand along with Gai and a team of Anbu. They took a detour through Sound and found two of Orochimaru's bases and destroyed them. At both bases, nearly thirty orphans were discovered— several the lone survivors of clans that Orochimaru had rounded up.
At the first base, one such survivor was fifteen year old Kimimaro from the Kaguya clan. Unlike many of his brethren, he wasn't driven by bloodlust and had survived the massacre of the rest of the clan when it attacked Kirigakure. He was extremely ill, so there was hope that Lady Tsunade might be able to help him. Another was a survivor of the Uzumaki — a girl the same age as Kakashi's former genin teammates by the name of Karin. A sixteen year old by the name of Jugo who had a powerful kekkei genkai that allowed them to use natural energy instinctually.
By the time they found the second base, the Konoha forces crossed a team of two S-ranked ninja from Mist. The more vocal of the duo was Kisame Hoshigaki— they was searching for Suigetsu Hozuki whom was captured by Orochimaru.
"Who is Suigetsu to you?" Kakashi asked, as their teams sat together around their campfire — Kakashi and Gai, Kisame and Mangetsu. The quartet of masked Anbu remained hidden in the trees. They were only a few hours from the second base and would infiltrate it before the night was over.
"He's my younger brother," Mangetsu answered.
"You've got a little something in your teeth," Gai said, gesturing towards Kisame's mouth.
"Do I?" Kisame pulled a dagger out from his belt and began to pick at his teeth. It wasn't quite as ridiculously large as his massive sword, but it was still almost comical. He shifted his dark, navy gaze towards Kakashi. "So you're the one that killed Zabuza Momochi?"
"Unfortunately, he didn't leave me much choice. I didn't have the final blow, that happened when he turned against the corrupt mob boss that had hired him," Kakashi answered. "His subordinate Haku sacrificed himself to save Zabuza." Kakashi was grateful that his mask hid his grimace at the memory of the young boy's death
Kisame nodded. "I appreciate that you and your brats stayed to bury him proper."
Kakashi hated that Zabuza and Haku had died on that mission to Wave. It had introduced his little genin to the harsh reality of life as a shinobi. Zabuza was another tragic would-be hero. He'd failed in his attempt to overthrow the violent Fourth Mizukage. "Yeah, it was an unfortunate resolution."
One of the Anbu operatives broke cover and flash-stepped to Kakashi's side, flaring his chakra to warn Kakashi and prevent an unfortunate reflex attack. It was the first time this operative used their chakra and Kakashi turned towards him in surprise — he recognized his subordinate's chakra. Itachi Uchiha was one of the Anbu on this mission. In fact, Itachi was the Anbu Captain leading the squad.
"I have an idea to draw out Orochimaru," Itachi suggested, his voice familiar behind his animal mask.
Kisame shifted and stared at Itachi with narrowed eyes.
"He's obsessed with my clan," Itachi continued, removing his mask.
"Oh shit!" Kisame gawked. "You're the kid I almost partnered with under the Akatsuki!"
"Really?" Itachi smirked faintly. "The shark man." He nodded. "Well, let us work together now and find this second base."
"You are no longer affiliated with the Akatsuki?" Kakashi asked. He faintly remembered intel on the mercenary group from nearly seven years back. They seemed to vanish from the radar right when they started to draw attention.
Kisame rubbed his forehead. "Yeah, our leader vanished after he failed to acquire a couple of new recruits." He gestured towards Itachi. "This one being one of them. The other one is the fucking Kazekage of Suna now."
Itachi sighed. "Can you watch your language?"
"Is his language going to run off somewhere if he watches it?" Mangetsu snickered.
"Shall we get started?" Gai asked eagerly. "We're only two hours from our destination and I'm all fired up!"
"I'm eager to free my brother," Mangetsu agreed standing. "And if we happen to find that Missing Nin Danzo, well, with the bounty on that man I could buy my own village! Maybe a hot springs!"
Kisame chuckled. "Alright, alright. I'm all for it. Konoha?" He looked between Kakashi and Itachi.
"Mah, let's stop wasting time, shall we?" Kakashi agreed. "Let's go snake hunting."
"Look out for those creepy white plant creatures," Mangetsu warned. "You cut one down, three more pop up in its stead. And they just emerge from the ground like terrifying prairie dogs."
"I didn't know prairie dogs were terrifying," Gai mused.
"Zombie prairie dogs are fucking terrifying," Mangetsu retorted.
"Language, please," Itachi sighed.
Kakashi snorted quietly. He had no doubt his current team would prove formidable even if the current conversation bordered on the ridiculous.
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Sakura
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Somehow, Naruto managed to convince Tsunade Senju to return to Konoha. Apparently, she was a gambler and he completed an imperfect Raisengan in a battle against Orochimaru .
Sakura, Shisui, and Shizune had crossed paths with Kabuto and a strange white plant-like creature. Naruto, Jiraiya, and Lady Tsunade had faced off against a weakened Orochimaru and that same plant-like creature.
Neither Jiraiya nor Tsunade had been prepared to kill their former teammate. If she'd been in a similar situation, Sakura wouldn't have been able to kill either Naruto or Sasuke. But then again, she didn't think either one of her precious teammates would even become as depraved and cruel as Orochimaru.
"Shizune tells me you want to become a medic," Tsunade said, when their group had checked into an inn. It had an attached bath house — Jiraiya had paid for the stop. The three women - -Tsunade, Shizune, and Sakura were soaking in the warm, luxurious water.
"I have a strong skill when it comes to chakra control," Sakura answered. "However, I don't want to work at a hospital — though I would be happy to help out when needed. I want to be on the field with my team, keeping them healthy and offering aid to villages we pass through on missions."
"That's a lofty goal," Tsunade murmured. She turned towards Shizune. "And you've agreed to apprentice her?"
Shizune nodded. "I have. Though, I know you'll be busy as the Hokage and I will obviously be there to help with the paperwork."
Tsunade leaned her head back against the edge of the pool. "Your teammate, Naruto spoke nothing but praises for you, Sakura. And while that kid is a loud-mouthed brat, he seems to be a good judge of character."
Sakura smiled faintly. "Naruto is my best friend. He hasn't had it easy, but he perseveres. His enthusiasm is contagious."
"I'll say," Tsunade agreed with a snort of laughter. "I hear from Jiraiya that while Naruto was officially adopted by the Uchiha, you're unofficially adopted by the clan's main family."
"Lord Fugaku and Lady Mikoto have been very gracious," Sakura agreed. She resisted the urge to call them Uncle and Auntie. "My teammates will be specializing in training and I cannot let myself fall behind. Naruto will be learning under Lord Jiraiya to become a Toad Sage. Sasuke will be working with different clansmen to master Uchiha techniques and seek Ryuchi cave and learning about the snakes. During our chunin exams, a mighty snake summons seemed to have an affinity to him and he wants to learn more. It blatantly resisted the order from Orochimaru."
"I wouldn't be surprised if Orochimaru somehow manipulated his way to Ryuchi cave. You remind me of someone," Tsunade murmured. "I can't quite place who, but there's just something about you, brat." She splashed her hand over the surface of the water in a rhythmic pattern. "I suppose you know about my contract with the slugs. Shizune doesn't have a summons."
Sakura nodded. "Lady Senju, I am most grateful that you are returning to Konoha. I look forward to seeing you in charge. I will prove myself a capable apprentice under Lady Shizune."
"Kato. I was married — briefly," Tsunade whispered. "Just call me — Master Tsunade."
"I'm sorry?" Sakura asked.
"You, brat, will call me Master Tsunade. If you can keep up with what Shizune teaches, after I've settled in to my role as Hokage, I'll see about training you myself," Tsunade offered.
"Really?" Sakura's voice was beyond hopeful and she slipped slightly off her seat in the bath, hardly believing her good fortune. "Master Tsunade, that would be amazing! I don't understand why you would help me when you have so much already on your plate."
"Jiraiya was also very persuasive," Tsunade confessed. "He said if I gave you half a chance, I wouldn't be disappointed. He may have also mentioned that my old rival Chiyo of Sunagakure has offered you an apprenticeship. I've spent the last twenty years enjoying my freedom. I need to return home and fix the village my grandfather and his brother founded. I will finally be able to improve the medical program like I dreamed about back when I was your age." Tsunade smiled faintly. "Dan would want me to live his dream of being Hokage for him and my dream of revolutionizing medicine."
Shizune elbowed Sakura gently in the side. "All you have to do is prove herself first to me."
Sakura nodded, feeling more determined than she had in a long while.
"I won't let either of you down," Sakura vowed.
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Kakashi
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It had been six months since Tsunade Senji took over the mantle of Godaime. Naruto had left the village to train under Jiraiya at Mount Myoboku between the border of Wave and Mist. Sasuke and Shisui had left the village to train at Ryuchi Cave. And Sakura had finished her apprenticeship with Shizune and was training under the Hokage herself.
Kakashi had just finished a series of missions when he'd been called into the Godaime's office and given the update on his former young charges.
"And the arrogant prick in Suna sends me another request!" Tsunade waved a scroll in irritation. "Kazekage Sasori writes that if my apprentice had been a shinobi of his village, she'd have been promoted at the last Chunin exams. As a sign of good will, he's requesting again that I allow her to train under his grandmother." Tsunade crumpled the scroll in her hand. "As if I'd let my apprentice train under my inferior rival!"
Kakashi smiled faintly under his mask. It was nice to hear that his old teammates were all doing well in their respective growth. He suspected the next time he crossed paths with them, he'd likely not recognize their fighting techniques.
"I am glad to hear my old genin are all growing in their capacity to serve Konoha," Kakashi murmured. He was anxious to receive his next assignment. Orochimaru, Danzo, and Kabuto were all still at large.
"You leave on your next assignment the day after tomorrow. Why don't you visit some friends?" Tsunade suggested. "You and the rest of your Team Ro will receive your next assignment from the Anbu Commander Uchiha."
Kakashi glanced up at the rafters of Tsunade's office where Genma served as her primary bodyguard. He lifted his hand in a wave.
Tsunade sighed. "Genma, you're dismissed. You two have fun."
A moment later, Genma leapt down to stand next to the Hokage desk. He bowed briefly at Tsunade and then started for the door, Kakashi fell into step beside him.
They were outside of the tower, walking casually down the street before they spoke. "I'm surprised you're being let off early," Kakashi mused.
"It's because we're heading to Shikkotsu Forest the day after tomorrow. The Godaime and her apprentice will be training there for a while," Genma explained.
"How? She can't leave the village and govern it," Kakashi protested. He also couldn't believe that Sakura — that civilian with the silly crush on him and pet of the Uchiha would be training in the forest where the first Hokage trained to become a sage. He wasn't surprised by Naruto or Sasuke training at the other two mystical realms. But as always, when it came to Sakura he had conflicted feelings. Part of him was proud for her pursuing strength and the part of him wished she would give up the life of a shinobi and pursue a safer alternative.
"The Flying Thunder God Technique of the Hokage Guard Platoon can teleport the Godaime between the forest and her office," Genma explained.
"I miss him so much," Kakashi said quietly.
Genma nodded. "We all do." He was leading Kakashi towards Ichiraku Ramen shop. "Ramen okay for dinner?"
Kakashi shrugged. "If you're paying, I'm not complaining."
"So cheap," Genma whined.
They walked inside to the fairly crowded restaurant. Kakashi scanned the occupants and his visible eye widened in surprise. Sitting at one of the larger tables in the back was Shisui, Sasuke and Izumi Uchiha along with Sakura Haruno. He wasn't sure what to think seeing two of his former charges sitting so close to each other, smiling, and flirting?
Was Sakura over her crush of Kakashi and moved on to a more age appropriate crush with Sasuke?
Before he could escape, Shisui noticed him and waved him and Genma over.
"Well, if it isn't the Jonin with more completed missions than any other in Konoha," Shisui greeted when Kakashi and Genma reached the table.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura greeted smiling broadly at him, her cheeks slightly pink.
Nope, she still had a crush on him. Part of Kakashi was relieved and part of him was annoyed. "Yo," he answered, sitting next to Shisui and across from his old teammates. Genma sat next to Sasuke, the girls on the inside of the table next to one another.
"Have you heard?" Sasuke asked, his voice much deeper than Kakashi last remembered. The kid seemed taller too. He gestured between him and Sakura. "You're looking at two-thirds of the Neo-sannin."
"That's rather presumptuous," Izumi chided.
"Naruto already has a summons with the toads, I've got one with the snake Aoda, and Sakura is about to forge one with the slugs. How is that presumptuous?" Sasuke scoffed.
"Ah, that's nice," Kakashi answered, crinkling his visible eye into a smile. "My father defeated the original Sannin single-handedly when they were a little older than the three of you."
"Is that your way of challenging us to another Bell test?" Sakura asked. "Because we succeeded last time."
Kakashi opened his eye fully and stared at her, studying the slight changes in her appearance. "I let you win."
Sakura rolled her eyes. "You underestimated us."
"I wouldn't make that mistake a second time," Kakashi assured her. He shifted his attention to Sasuke. "Any updates on Naruto?"
Sasuke frowned. "Why are you asking me?" He turned towards Sakura. "What did he say last you heard?"
"That was at least a month ago," Sakura protested. "He's coming along — learning chakra control and mastering the elements. He's got Wind, Water, and Earth down. He's struggling with Fire and Lightning. He's almost got Natural energy figured out." She smiled. "And he's grown an inch and a half since we last saw him — that part is very important."
Shisui snorted. "He's still a shrimp, but I guess that makes him taller than you now, Sakura-chan!"
Sakura wadded up a napkin and threw it at Shisui's face. The teleportation expert caught it easily and stuck his tongue out at Sakura briefly.
And maybe Kakashi might have cracked a smile at their antics. However, there was something about the way Sasuke and Sakura bumped shoulders together and were so comfortable with one another that rubbed him the wrong way.
Kakashi wouldn't see Sasuke or Sakura again for two more years.
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In the Future…20 y/o Sakura, 33 y/o Kakashi
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Kakashi
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He'd finally regained all his memories — of the current and old timelines. Both times, he'd been an asshole more often than not, and yet he still had friends and allies that stuck with him through thick and thin.
And he'd ended up Rokudaime — again. More importantly, he was married to Sakura in the current timeline and the baby they'd conceived fourteen years in the past was developing nicely.
Kakashi breathed a sigh of relief as he held Sakura's hand and they stared at the ultrasound the Scientific Research Team had created. The strong and steady beat of Takashi's heart was the most beautiful sound Kakashi had ever heard.
"This is so much nicer than the first time, wouldn't you say, Sakura?" Izumi asked. She moved the ultrasound wand again to give a different view of their son.
Sakura laughed softly. "I don't know, having a baby in secret in a foreign country had its charm."
Kakashi squeezed her hand. He'd learned all about her apprenticeship in Suna and her clandestine pregnancy. How she had kept her condition secret to avoid being forced into retirement and how Izumi and Itachi had claimed Sarada as their own child until after Sakura had become a Jonin. How both Itachi and Sasuke — the heirs to the Uchiha clan had permission to both be in Suna at the same time for the birth.
It had been a state secret — known only to the Uchiha head family, the Godaime and the Kazekage.
Kakashi had been chasing ghosts in Sound and Rain while the love of his life gave birth to another man's child. He'd moved past the bitter jealously long ago, but he still resented his own past behavior. He'd been absolutely awful to Sakura in her early teen years — trying to discourage her silly crush.
It hadn't been a crush. Their bond through the various timelines transcended into the current present. He'd denied it, but eventually their paths reconnected. His precious person kept coming back to him and he had to meet her again every time.
"I'm pretty sure I can convince Itachi to continue as Interim Hokage to give you two a little more time to reconnect," Izumi offered. She smiled softly. "We do owe our very lives to you two and the existence of our daughter Tia and son Yukio."
"Joy and fortunate boy," Sakura murmured, closing her eyes and smiling softly. "Nice names."
"We thought so," Izumi agreed. "They seemed fitting considering the circumstances." She plucked off a few tissues and handed them to Sakura to clean off the gel smeared over her belly. "I'll give you two some time."
"Is everything really all good? We didn't have to fight an evil goddess this time around?" Sakura asked, opening her eyes and searching Kakashi's face.
He pulled down his mask to allow her a full inspection, smiling faintly at the blush on her cheeks. Even after all this time, his wife was still easily flustered by his looks. It did wonders for Kakashi's ego. What man doesn't want to be sexy for his wife? "She's still safely sealed away on the moon. Though, Naruto and Sasuke worked together to form an alliance with the tailed beasts. Some jinchurikis exist, but it's only to be a volunteer position — no more innocent babies being implanted with an angry, immensely powerful beast."
"But in the original time, Sasuke was looking for clues to their kind — the Otsutsuki," Sakura reminded him.
"And now Obito, Neji, Shin, and Kimimaro continue that search — all dead in the old timeline," Kakashi pointed out. "Sasuke helps occasionally, but he likes staying close to the village — close to the daughter you share."
"Let's go home. I want to snuggle my husband and pet our ninken."
Kakashi smiled and then slipped his mask in place. He lifted Sakura into his arms, enjoying the feel of her arms wrapped around his neck. "As you wish." Then he flash-stepped them back to the Hatake Estate.
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