Hello everyone this is TsukikoUchu
I know, I know, you probably want me to work on other stories that have been ongoing for years, but this one popped into my head and wouldn't go away, in fact I've even made significant progress on this little random story I thought up, it's different than my average stories, very different, it includes a lot of OC's and perhaps the strangest pairing to date, Sakura Haruno and Fu Yamanaka, now I looked it up and he doesn't have a character tag in the list.
Now, on to the posting schedule, I'll be posting a chapter once a week, to give myself plenty of time in-between each posting to write new chapters for this story and on that note I hope you enjoy, I almost dumped this story once, when I got part way through and decided I wasn't satisfied and rewrote what I had written, but I really hope you my dear readers like this new story until I can focus on my old stories to finish.
"NO, AJISAI, KAORI" ten-year-old Kushina Uzumaki cried, holding tight to her sister's hands as a Leaf shinobi tried to separate the triplets and take Kushina to Konohagakure with him, their parents knew there was nothing they could do, however.
Because one of their daughters had been chosen to eventually house the nine-tailed fox, it was unfortunate but necessary as Kushina finally lost her grip and was carried away to her new home, Ajisai and Kaori left behind sobbing their little hearts out at the loss of their sister.
That was far from the last thing to happen when Uzushiogakure was attacked and subsequently destroyed and soon all three sisters were separated to not be reunited ever again when Kaori wound up in Kusagakure years later and gave birth to her own child, Karin Uzumaki.
As for Ajisai, she was 18 when she wandered in Kaze no Kuni and eventually into Sunagakure and that's where our story begins as she meets Yashamaru, the Kazekage's brother-in-law and falls in love with him at first sight "Hello where did you come from" the violet eyed blonde asked.
"Oh, well everywhere and nowhere at the same time I suppose" Ajisai giggled as she was taken to meet the 4th Kazekage, Rasa, and given refuge there in Hidden Sand only after proving herself useful to the man upon revealing that she was an Uzumaki.
Thus began her life in Sunagakure as she got close to her love interest's older sister while using her abilities such as the chakra chains or fuinjutsu, even the kekkeigenkai she'd inherited from her father of plant release, all for the good of the village at Rasa's demand.
Until after a year Yashamaru ask her to marry him after only falling deeper and deeper in love with the young man and so they got married and Ajisai spent her time doting on her niece and nephew while the Kazekage lightened up towards her, not completely but she was sure she could break through his tough exterior in due time.
Before she knew it though Ajisai had lived in Sunagakure for two whole years and had enjoyed every moment of it while also enjoying married life to her husband at the tender age of 20 "Are you feeling alright Ajisai" Karura asked when her sister-in-law bolted to the bathroom in a familiar move to heave up that morning's breakfast.
"I'm not sure Karura, that has happened the past several mornings, perhaps it's time to visit the hospital and find out what's causing me to be sick so often lately" Ajisai answered, rinsing her mouth out to get rid of the taste of vomit and so that's what she did, with Yashamaru in tow.
The young couple went to the hospital and got checked out by a doctor "Your pregnant, congratulations" the doctor clapped, giving the future parents the congratulations they were due as they left and headed home to talk about how things were going to be from then on.
Ultimately despite being young Ajisai couldn't bare the thought of aborting any child she'd conceived with the man she loved and so a year later when she was 21, a couple months after the birth of her final nephew and losing her beloved older sister-in-law, Ajisai went into labor on March 28th.
"Yashamaru I don't think I can do this" Ajisai cried to her husband of 3 years, labor hurt more than expected and she wasn't sure she had properly prepared herself for this day, at her statement however Yashamaru turned from where he was checking on Gaara and held her hand with a gentle smile on his face.
Cradling her hand in his, whispering soothing words of encouragement to her "Ajisai I know you can, please just a little longer and our child will be here for us to have and to hold" Yashamaru murmured kindly, wiping the sweat accumulating on her forehead away.
Keeping hold of her hand as she bore down with all her might and pushed until with a wail their daughter was born "Yashamaru...please I want to hold her" Ajisai requested, the first sign that there was something wrong, as the mid-wife went to take the newborn off to wash.
Though with a single look the babe still covered in the birthing fluids was placed gently in her mother's arms, bright jade eyes softened "She's beautiful Ajisai, what should we name her" Yashamaru remarked softly, taking a moment to appreciate his daughter.
While still keeping an eye on his wife, because he just knew something wasn't right "How about...Sakura" Ajisai hummed quietly, letting her daughter be taken off by the midwife now "Yashamaru something is wrong I can feel it" Ajisai confessed.
Feeling herself growing weaker as the minutes passed "MEDIC, I NEED A MEDIC NOW" Yashamaru shouted when her eyes rolled and his wife of two years lost consciousness, thankfully a medic arrived in time to save his beloved and after five days of taking care of their daughter, Ajisai woke from her medically induced coma.
"Our daughter where is she Yashamaru" Ajisai sat upright in a panic, the last thing she remembered is passing out for some reason after only getting to hold her child for a short time, Yashamaru turned and picked up a tiny bundle wrapped in pink.
Ajisai felt her breath catch in her throat as Sakura was placed carefully in her arms "She's hardly cried Ajisai" Yashamaru admitted, tending to his nephew as Gaara let out a wail upon noticing that his five-day old cousin was no longer next to him in the bassinet.
She looked up at that, managing to tear her peridot orbs away from her child that bore the same eyes as her "What happened, all I remember is feeling weak and then nothing, how long have I been out" Ajisai inquired, wanting to know and not be left in the dark.
Luck was on her side as Yashamaru explained that she'd begun bleeding internally but since it had been caught in time the medics had been able to save her life, but that she had to be put in a medically induced coma where she'd slept for five days "I'm glad, I want to be here for our daughter" Ajisai sighed in relief as she cradled her newborn.
"Me to, I don't think I would have been able to manage if I'd lost you Ajisai, I'm still grieving Karura's death, and I probably wouldn't have been a good father to our child or caretaker to Gaara if you had died" Yashamaru confessed as he lifted Gaara out of the bassinet.
Bringing the boy closer to his slightly younger cousin until he settled, let out a yawn and drifted off back to sleep thankfully "Goodness, seems like someone is attached isn't he" Ajisai giggled quietly the only other person to have witnessed the moment.
As Yashamaru nodded "From the very first moment I laid them down together, yes Ajisai, the sand that prevents most others from getting close, let our daughter near, like it could sense that Sakura was no threat to Gaara" Yashamaru explained.
Still shocked himself over the strange phenomenon "Well isn't that a good thing" Ajisai frowned, not seeing the problem until it was explained to her, to Rasa, Gaara was a tool for the village and Sakura could potentially get in the way if she was too close to her cousin, a truly sad thing to be sure.
Yet over the next two years she couldn't help but encourage their bond and the cousins became very close indeed "Momma, momma tell me a story please" Sakura interrupted her musings as Gaara was taken away for his evening bath by her father, having already taken hers, quite articulate despite being two.
"Certainly sweetie, hmm let's see, ah have I told you the story about the time I and my sisters got up to mischief" Ajisai asked, knowing she hadn't because Sakura looked enthralled with the idea of having aunts somewhere out there in the big wide world.
Since her uncle Rasa was kind of a little mean and didn't give much affection "No momma, tell me, tell me" Sakura begged, plopping down in her mother's lap as Ajisai started the story of when she still lived in Uzushiogakure, the Hidden Village of Eddy where all Uzumaki had lived and about her sisters Kushina and Kaori.
When her little girl was on the verge of falling asleep long after Yashamaru had returned with Gaara, Sakura looked up at her mother and asked a question that nearly broke Ajisai's heart "Do you think I'll ever get to meet Auntie Kaori or Auntie Kushina" Sakura inquired innocently.
Not sure why her mother looked sad all of a sudden "Maybe, if you're lucky sweetie" was all Ajisai could say, wishing with all her might that she could see her sisters too as Sakura was taken off for bed with her cousin and the two-year-olds went to sleep.
Before they knew it another year had come and gone, right as Ajisai was teaching Sakura the trademark of the Uzumaki clan, fuinjutsu, tragedy struck, so when Sakura was 3, her mother died and the reason according to the medics was an unknown cause.
Leaving Yashamaru a single father to his 3-year-old daughter and sole caretaker of his 3-year-old nephew "Momma's not coming back" Sakura cried, when her mother was properly buried and Yashamaru shook his head sadly in response.
"I'm afraid not Sakura...make no mistake your mother loved you very much" Yashamaru assured, hating that he had to grieve another loss, this time his wife of 4 years, Sakura sniffled quietly and held tightly to his hand until the funeral was over.
Then she was taken home where everything that reminded Yashamaru of his dearly departed wife was put away, in that manner another year passed and over the course of that year to help with the loss of her mother Sakura had grown very close to Gaara, closer than before.
And Rasa, her uncle finally found out about their bond "Could be useful...she's what 4, Sakura could be the key to controlling Gaara in the future, so start her training Yashamaru" Rasa ordered, not really having interacted much with the child that was his niece.
He barely had time for his two eldest children, and he wasn't even going to mention his youngest "As you wish Rasa" Yashamaru bowed, caving into the man's demand, looking more tired as the days went by, loss would do that to a person after all.
Yet he still loved his daughter it seemed as from then on Sakura joined Gaara during his lessons and Yashamaru even went so far as to dig out Ajisai's books on fuinjutsu that she'd brought from Uzushio before it was destroyed and pick up where his late wife had left off on teaching their daughter sealing jutsu.
Reporting in to Rasa whenever the children progressed on their training and that's how things were for the next year when they were 5 "Sakura where did you run off to now" Yashamaru called for his daughter when she vanished from sight.
Unfortunately, the girl could suppress her chakra better than a grown up and she'd gotten in the habit of using the trick to get out of training, on Sakura's part she just wanted to take a little break as she found a secluded spot and pressed her hand to the ground.
A moment later a blueberry bush sprouted from the spot she'd touched, and Sakura was quite happy to eat a handful or three no doubt spoiling her appetite for dinner, it was something she had figured out she could do and had kept it secret from her father.
Because if her father knew, then her mean uncle Rasa would know soon after as well and the last thing she wanted was more training on top of what she already did, especially after she'd used the chakra chains a few months ago which apparently made her a more valuable pawn to Rasa and so her training had become even more grueling.
"It's not fair" Sakura huffed, when her older cousins darted by her hiding place clearly searching for her, Temari and Kankuro got it easy, their father wasn't nearly as strict on them as he was on her and Gaara and deep down inside of her, she kind of resented them a little.
Even if Temari and Kankuro were nice to her, they didn't get near enough time to play with her because of her always having to train, eventually, figuring that she'd probably made her father worry long enough, Sakura hurried home and was squeezed into a hug of relief.
Before Yashamaru proceeded to scold her until her ears rang "Just don't do it again" Yashamaru sighed when his daughter sat silently before him, not saying anything to his frustration but a few days later Sakura disappeared on him again and they repeated the process.
The next tragedy came a year later just a few days after Gaara's sixth birthday, while she still had to wait nearly two months, when Rasa decided it was time to test Gaara's control over the tailed beast inside of him and ordered Yashamaru to attempt to assassinate his nephew.
It resulted in Yashamaru losing his life, leaving little Sakura an orphan now that both of her parents were dead, and Rasa realized his mistake, without his brother-in-law, his niece would not become the tool he expected of her and made a decision on the night of her father's murder, he sealed the girl's memories and sent her far away.
Lying to his children, especially Gaara about what happened to the pinkette that was their cousin, "Do you see what happens when someone tries to love a monster, they end up dead, it's on you Gaara that your cousin is dead" Rasa informed harshly.
Meanwhile all the way in Hidden Leaf where she had been sent, in an orphanage full of other children, was Sakura as she sat in the corner away from the other kids, normally bright jade eyes, dull and staring blankly at a book that she'd been handed to entertain herself with.
Until another child approached "Do you want to play with us" the girl asked, holding out her hand to the newbie who couldn't remember anything except for her name, according to the matron that is, Sakura looked up from her book, before shaking her head.
Determined to not make friends when they could potentially leave her upon being adopted "Come on" another kid approached, this time a boy "You'll never make friends if all you do is read, or do you want to be branded with the nickname nerd" he taunted.
Though he didn't expect to be pushed "Leave me alone, call me names all you want but I won't be your friend if you were the last boy on earth" Sakura shouted, not doing anything else as the matron ran over and shuffled the two children away.
Only to come back a minute or so later "Sakura-chan that was mean, we don't push others alright, so go to your room and think about what you've done, ah-ah the book, I want you to reflect on your actions and I want you to think about what you'll say as an apology" the matron tsked, when the pinkette tried to take the book with her.
"But he started it, he came over here and called me a mean name first" Sakura stomped her foot, not wanting to be the only one punished and have to apologize, the matron frowned, trying to discern if the rosette was telling the truth, then remembered what the girl had shouted after pushing the boy.
Sakura was infinitely happier when the instigator was given a punishment as well and though she didn't feel like she should have to apologize, she did, because he was made to as well, though after that incident the other children definitely stayed away from her.
As she buried her head in books and watched over the next couple of months as her fellow orphans were adopted out by nice couples that wanted them, until it was just her "Don't give up hope Sakura-chan, I'm sure a nice mom and dad will adopt you" the matron assured.
Earning a blank stare from the pinkette, before the girl picked up a book and began to read, the matron shook her head but went off to tend her duties, and then a few days later, Kizashi and Mebuki Haruno entered the orphanage having just gained the necessary permission to adopt a child.
The matron was there to greet the couple with a kind smile "Unfortunately though we only have one child that is adoptable at the moment, and she can be a bit of a handful sometimes, Sakura-chan has a love for reading" the matron explained.
Leading the way to the backyard where Sakura could be found on sunny days "That's no issue, we can supply her with as many books as she wishes" Kizashi chuckled, peering around the backyard for the child that would hopefully be his daughter that day.
Only he couldn't spot any child at all whatsoever to his confusion "Up there Haruno-san, like I said, she's a bit of a handful, Sakura-chan has excellent control over her chakra and after reading a book about the tree-climbing exercise has since preferred lounging in tree's rather than on solid ground" the matron sighed.
Pointing upwards into the tallest tree the orphanage had and there resting on the thickest branch with a book was a pink haired six-year-old with green eyes "Oh my" Mebuki covered her mouth in shock, the girl could pass as their actual daughter if those were her looks.
"Yes...Sakura-chan would you come down here, there's some people that want to meet you" the matron called, mistaking Mebuki's shock, Sakura looked down then closed her book with a sigh, taking a moment to gather chakra into her feet and walk calmly down the trunk of the tree to solid ground.
Warily approaching as she saw that the people who wanted to meet her were a married couple "Hello...Sakura-chan right...I'm Kizashi Haruno" Kizashi greeted kindly, wanting this girl to like him and his wife, though he knew it would take a lot of work before she was completely comfortable with them.
"I'm Mebuki Haruno...we heard you like to read" Mebuki introduced herself next and asked a question of the small girl in front of her, feeling hope fill her that she would soon have a child like she and Kizashi had always wanted.
Clearly it was the right thing to say as the pinkette perked a little "All the time, it's my favorite thing in the entire world" Sakura nodded, letting the couple ask her questions for a while and she was just starting to let her hopes get raised when the two turned to the matron and asked to speak privately with her.
Fear that she would be stuck in the orphanage filled her and she reached forward unthinkingly and gripped the back of Mebuki's qipao "Please don't go, I don't want to be alone anymore" Sakura cried, the first tears the matron had ever seen from the six-year-old.
Confused over why the girl thought they were going to leave her both Kizashi and Mebuki bent, scooping Sakura up into their arms "Of course we're not going to go sweetie, we just have to fill out some paperwork to adopt you, is that okay, do you want us to adopt you Sakura-chan" Kizashi inquired.
Trying not to let his excitement show even as he and Mebuki cradled the girl in their arms, it just felt right to them somehow "Would you" Sakura asked hopefully, tears in her viridian eyes and got a nod from Kizashi while Mebuki squished her into a slightly suffocating hug.
Until her husband cleared his throat "While we're signing the paperwork, why don't you go get your things Sakura-chan, I'm sure we'll be done by the time you are" Mebuki suggested, reluctantly putting the pinkette down so that she could run off to her room in the orphanage and pack her things.
Leaving them to sign the seemingly endless amount of paperwork involved in adopting a child "Looks like Sakura isn't done packing yet" the matron laughed, inwardly guessing at what would be taking the girl so long and she was right as she showed the couple to Sakura's room.
And found her surrounded by a ton of books that weren't able to fit in her pack that was already filled with all her other things and more books "Likes reading indeed" Kizashi remarked, before nodding "Tell you what Sakura-chan, why don't you pick out the books you like the most to bring with you" he offered.
Knowing they could always get her more if she wanted "Okay" Sakura sighed, not really wanting to part with any of her precious books, but she didn't want to be a problem for her new parents as she picked out her ten absolute favorites and left the rest in the orphanage matron's care.
Proving to be more mature than most her age as she slipped her pack onto her back and took Kizashi and Mebuki's outstretched hands "Are you ready to see your new home, you'll even get to pick out your own bedroom" Mebuki smiled, leading her daughter out of the orphanage and towards her new beginning.
It became very apparent however over the next month that Sakura was quite a special child, her mastery over chakra at such a young age completely astounded her adoptive parents, especially when she used it to help around the house, it being the chakra chains.
Neither Kizashi nor Mebuki knew how to handle the delicate situation and so an expert was brought in "Amazing I've never seen a child so...well adept at using their chakra and she's only six you say" Inoichi breathed, witnessing the phenomenon for himself.
Mebuki nodded "Yes, we adopted her a month ago from the orphanage, all the matron told us was that she was a bit of a handful, Sakura hasn't given us an ounce of trouble we swear, it's just that, we have no idea what to do" the blonde woman explained.
Gesturing to the strange ability of her child that Sakura unconsciously used all the time and was extremely helpful like it had a mind of its own "Did the matron tell you where Sakura-san came from, anything about her background would help" Inoichi questioned.
However, the couple shook their heads "No, Sakura, herself has no idea where she came from, it's like the entirety of her past has been lost" Kizashi admitted, smiling when laughter filled their ears from the six-year-old and the adults looked to see her hung upside like a bat to their amusement.
"Right, something to investigate I suppose, in the meantime why don't you enroll her into the academy, I know children of civilians typically aren't allowed until the age of 8, but I think the Hokage would make an exception for Sakura-san, considering she is of Uzumaki descent" Inoichi suggested.
Giving the couple something for the time being while he tried to find anything that would shed light on Sakura's past and a few months later after getting permission from the academy Sakura was set to start the academy in just a week's time.