Sakura had last seen Madara four years ago. She hadn't asked about him since the day they parted in the forest. She had taken time to reflect on her actions. She might be thirteen years now but she knew deep down that she was older than that. As such, she had to start acting more mature but that didn't mean that she wasn't going to enjoy her childhood. Hashirama was soon going to take over the clan. During the last battle, Butsuma and Tajima had injured themselves greatly. It was only a little while before their bodies finally gave out. She hoped it was soon. That way, Madara and Hashirama could make amends and achieve the dream that they always wanted. She had secretly started training with medical chakra. Matsuri had told her that she was too young to do it but she was stubborn. She going to become the best medical ninja in all the lands, whether Matsuri liked it or not.
She had grown taller, at least taller than the blonde boy who had a crush on her called Mamura. Toka had turned sixteen last year. Her hair was long, she always tied it with the ribbon Hashirama gave her. She smiled at the thought of the seventeen year old. Her sunshine in this life. He had grown out of his bowl cut and sported long hair with a white sash around his forehead with the Senju clan symbol. Tobirama was fifteen, being two years older than her. But he was taller than most boys his age. She heard the girls in the compound complain about how hot he was and how he rejected every girl who confessed to him. She hoped that she could gather the guts to confess to him too.
It was a secret she knew only herself. She had a crush on the white-haired ninja for as long as she could remember. It started when she was nine years old and only seemed to grow stronger over time. She had tried several times to tell him but after her friendship with Toka, she didn't bother trying. The older Senju girl had revealed to her that she had a crush on the boy and she was planning on confessing. That was four years ago and the topic hadn't been brought up again. But she was going to confess today. If she had the guts, that is. With that thought in mind, she made her way to the command centre where she would receive her first mission.
"You'll be escorting an Uzumaki royal from here to the capital where she will be received by her people to go to the the Land of Waves, you'll be assigned another teammate, a female most likely who will accompany you and to put the Uzumaki princess at ease," Hashirama spoke to Tobirama who nodded his head in understanding. "Any volunteers-" "I'll do it," Toka said, her voice loud and clear. "I'm sorry Toka but you have another mission plus I don't think that Mito-sama will be comfortable around you-
"So the Shodai Hokage's wife is your grandmother?" Sakura asked as she watched her shishou browse through a scroll. "Yes, the legendary Mito Uzumaki, the first woman who was able to control the Kyuubi and seal it inside of her. She was the one who taught me medical ninjutsu and the Strength of a Hundred Seal," the blonde said as she sealed the scroll shut.
"As my apprentice, I want you to have the Byakugo as well. So we'll start our training from midnight until morning as I prepare the seals. You'll be creating another chakra reserve apart from your main one-"
Hashirama had his arms wrapped around her. She was crouching on the ground, breathing heavily. She had another vision as she liked to call them but this time she didn't forget, she remembered it as clear as day. "Are you okay Sakura-chan?" the brunette asked concernedly. Sakura looked around the room. There were shinobi of all ages and gender. She was the youngest so far. Some were looking at her with concern, the others with amusement but the rest was mostly spite. "I'm f-fine," she stammered as she stood up. "I want to volunteer for the escort mission. I'm almost the same age as Mito-sama," she said strongly as she ignored the eyes boring holes at her, specifically Toka.
"Are you confident that you will complete this mission without any drawbacks? We wouldn't want it to turn into a babysitting mission for Mito-sama," Tobirama asked with cold eyes. "I said I can do it. Do you have a problem with that, Tobirama-sama?" Sakura ground out with blazing eyes. Tension settled into the room as the two teens glared at each other. "Tobirama and Sakura, you'll both take the mission. Just make sure that whatever personal tension you have between you two doesn't hinder the success of the mission," Hashirama said, cutting through the silence. "Thank you aniki," the younger Senju said. "Thank you Hashirama," she said gratefully with a wide smile.
Sakura was walking out of the command centre when she heard voices speaking causing her to stop. "Uh, those two disgust me. Did you see how he rushed to her after she pulled another stunt?" the first voice said. "Don't even remind me. I heard that she spreads her legs for him in return for staying here," another voice said with a snicker. "Just like Matsuri does with Butsuma, the nerve of those bitches," the first voice said. "But it would be better if the pinkette was as curvaceous as the blonde, that girl is as flat as a boy. If it weren't for her long hair, I'd think she was a boy," the second voice and the two burst into laughter.
She watched two boys come out of the command centre. They were around Hashirama's age. One had long blonde hair tied into a low ponytail with narrow brown eyes and the other with brown hair and similar eyes. They were dressed in the standard Senju shinobi attire. "Hey there pinky, does the curtain match the drapes?" the blonde snickered. Sakura remained silent as she stared at the two older boys with clenched fists and teary eyes. "Are you gonna cry? Is the little bitch gonna cry just like when your boyfriend fucks you?" the dark-haired boy barked out with a laugh.
"I think that you're going too far here."
The three ninjas turned to stare at Tobirama who was standing behind them with his arms akimbo. He was as tall as the older boys. "Tobirama-sama," the two boys said as they bowed down. "Instead spending your time being useful, you spend time attacking an innocent girl who has done nothing to offend you. Instead of supporting our future leader, you spread rumours. Have you no shame?" he asked with a frown marring his features. "We're sorry, it's just this girl-" "She has a name and it's Sakura," he cut them. "This Sakura has done nothing for the Senju yet she's close to the Senju royal family. I wonder what she has to offer," the blonde said, letting his words hang in the air.
Tobirama was quiet for awhile. "What are your names?" he asked. "Ryuuji Senju," the blonde said. "Shika Senju," the brunette said. "You are demoted to compound missions for the next six months, you're off active duty for the next twelve months," he barked. "You can't do that!" Ryuuji protested as he stood up. "Oh, I can't?" Tobirama said as his chakra lashed out, creating massive air waves around them and cracks on the ground.
"What's going on here?"
Hashirama walked down the steps just as his younger brother's chakra recided. "Senju-sama," Ryuuji started. "I don't want to hear it. I know the rumors that you have been spreading around the compound and I'm not pleased at all. You'll do everything that Tobirama said plus you'll be spending another six months cleaning the pig sty. Dismissed!" he barked out. The two ninjas shared a look before they bowed and left.
Hashirama pinched the bridge of his nose as he breathed deeply. "You guys don't have to go that far for me," she said with a hiccup as she crouched to the ground, hugging herself. "Of course we do, you're more special than you know," Hashirama said as he mimicked her. "But why? I haven't done anything to deserve this. I've only caused you pain, I came between you and your father, I blamed you for ending our friendship with Madara," she said as tears streamed down her cheeks. "It's because you're the embodiment of everything we're fighting for, you are the walking Will of Fire. You might not see it now but we do, just wait a few years," the brunette replied as he touched her hair affectionately.
"Can we go now? We still have duties to complete," Tobirama said as he rolled his eyes. Sakura wiped her eyes as the two of them stood up. "Thank you Hashirama, I feel a lot better now," the pinkette said with smile. "You too Tobirama, thank you for standing up for me," she said she wrung her hands together, purposefully avoiding eye contact with a slight blush on her cheeks. The younger sibling grunted a reply.
Sakura was waiting at the gates. She had her bag packed and was ready to go. Winter was approaching soon and it would start to snow in a few days. "Why does he have to be late today of all the days? It's my first mission outside the compound," she breathed out impatiently. "I'm not late," Tobirama's voice sounded beside her. "You said to meet in an hour, it's already an hour plus three minutes," she pointed out. "If we round it off to the next hour, it's still one hour so I'm not late," he shot back. "Still, it's more than an hour," she replied. "Alright girls, we get it. You're both pretty," another voice said.
The two turned to the redhead who was staring at them amusedly. She was dressed in the standard shinobi attire but her armour was purple. Her hair was tied into two buns on either sides of her head. Her blueish-green eyes were bright. A single katana was strapped to her back. Despite being dressed in heavy armour, her curvaceous figure still stood out. "Wow, you're even prettier in person," she breathed out. "Aren't you a sweetheart?" she giggled. "I'm Mito Uzumaki, first princess of the Uzumaki clan leader and one of the seven fuinjutsu masters in all the lands," she introduced herself. "That's a bit far fetched, isn't it? Because I remember you being the youngest princess of the Uzumaki clan and a work-in-progress still learning about fuinjutsu," the white-haired ninja corrected her. "Still the smart ass as ever. I'm the only remaining princess, my other six sisters passed away," she spoke. "Oh, I'm sorry about that," Sakura said with an apologetic smile.
"No need to apologize, it's not your fault anyways. It was those blasted Uchihas who ambused them on their way to the Daimyo's palace. I was too young then to travel with them so I stayed behind but I swear to Kami if I ever see an Uchiha, they're not walking away alive," she ground out. "I'm sure not all Uchihas are that bad," Sakura replied. "Oh please, I know them like the back of my hand. They're all the same, merciless, disgusting with a strong case of superiority complex and wickedly handsome. I swear I'd make a sweetheart as pretty as you if I were to get married to one of them. My genes plus theirs is one bombshell but it's probably not going to happen so I'll just forget about it," the redhead said with a good natured smile.
"You think I'm pretty?" Sakura asked awestruck. "Oh yes you are sweetheart. You'll have all those boys crawling on their stomaches in no time. Just make sure to stay close to Tobirama or Hashirama, they'll protect you," Mito said. "I can protect myself," she said as she puffed out her chest. "I know you can but there's a certain protection which comes naturally when you belong to someone," the redhead spoke. "Belong to someone? What does that mean?" Sakura asked. "You'll understand in three years or so. Or maybe you do but you just don't know it," Mito said with a mischievous wink.
"Hey, you gotta tell me now," the pinkette said as she stomped her feet on the ground. "Oh ho, catch me if you can and I'll tell you," the older girl spoke as she began backtracking and shunshined away from her, appearing half a kilometer in front of them. "Come back you!" Sakura shouted as she ran towards her. Mito did a little victory dance before speeding forwards.
Tobirama sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He had one heck of a journey ahead of him.
Should I say sorry for not updating in a long time???
Tozoonana
AfricanFire
