Curiosity about the few framed pictures that had appeared weeks after Tsunade took the Hokage title was digging at Sakura. A few could be figured out as one held that of the Nidaime with a much smaller and younger version of Tsunade standing at his side. Another held that of her father, mother, and tiny baby with Tsunade being the one holding the baby. Just next to that one showed Tsunade a bit older and a boy, that was possibly the baby in the first picture, being hugged by her from behind as both grinned.

No, the ones that dug at Sakura were pictures of a girl. Black hair and equally black eyes that were so familiar to Sakura in that this girl was a near copy of Sasuke but still with slight differences. Several pictures showed her at different ages with Tsunade alongside. One of them was of the two girls standing next to each other wearing yukata with what looked like a festival happening in the background. Both had smiles as each had an arm wrapped around the others arm to link them. Sakura couldn't help but stare at how young and carefree her shishou looked in that picture.

The next one showed the two girls dirty, cut up, and looking very tired yet still happy from what looked like a recent training ordeal. The picture held a lot of value as Sakura could see hints of fading along the edges that showed it had been held before finding a home within its frame.

Another held the two of them a little older with several others of an older age, possibly late teen years. Two of the six being known to Sakura as old teammates of her shishou, Jiraiya and Orochimaru. Just from looks she figured one out to be an Aburame with the way they were covered more than everyone in that picture. Another Sakura figure was a Hatake? Maybe. The silver hair and face mask made her think too similar to Kakashi but she could be wrong. The only other female of the group stood next to Tsunade just like most of the other pictures that held the two together. What was different in this one particular one was the war gear and subdued happiness of the group. Yes, the ones that didn't have faces covered still gave a somewhat smile but Sakura could see the strain in their eyes and the tense way they held their bodies.

"Done studying those pictures?" Sakura jumped and twisted around, nearly tripping over her feet in her haste, to see Tsunade leaning against her office door. She sent a raised brow at Sakura.

"Sorry shishou, I didn't mean to focus so much on them." Sakura replied, barely getting her words out without stumbling over them.

Tsunade let her eyes leave Sakura to look at the frames that sat to one corner of the windows. They were in full view of any that came into her office so it wasn't like she kept them a mystery. Most of those still active her age knew each and every person that were pictured within them. A sigh left her as she shifted off of the door frame and walked up to them, sending a wave to Sakura to show she didn't care. "I would not have set them like they are if I didn't think they would have been in danger. All of those you see, well other than my old teammate, they no longer live. I have no need to keep them hidden since no enemy will be able to find them."

Sakura glanced from Tsunade to the pictures she had been standing near. When Tsunade stopped next to her, she watched the older woman pick up the picture with the six people. For a long moment she stood staring at the photo with sadden eyes. "This was taken a day before my team and Tsubaki's team were ordered to join the war front during the Second Shinobi War. We were all so young. Tsubaki, the youngest of us all."

Sakura took in the dark haired female within the picture. "Who was she to you?" She asked, hinting at her curiosity since she showed up in many pictures with Tsunade.

Tsunade took a deep breath before letting it leave through her nose, her gaze still on the framed photo she held. "She was a good friend to me. A dear friend that each thought the other as a sister in all but blood. She was always by my side."

Sakura remained quiet, having an idea of where this might lead. Tsunade already stated all but a few were dead. Her shishou then set the framed photo back in its place. "I can feel what you want to ask Sakura." Tsunade turned her head to the young teen girl before turning back to the picture.

"Those two next to her, Hatake Kijuro and Aburame Osamu, were her teammates. It was a border skirmish gone wrong with Iwagakure shinobi. They had us pinned and outnumbered. Kijuro nearly died that day due to a suicide bombing of a clone. I had taken several kunai hits and an explosion to my leg while Tsubaki had taken a kusarigama to her gut and a katana to an eye, leaving her blind on one side. Each of us had been hit badly in the fight that led to her rash decision to save us at the expense of her own life."

"What did she do?"

"Before my oji-san passed he had a pupil studying under him in the art of fuinjutsu and other things. She was that student and used one of his forbidden techniques called Tadem Paper Bomb Technique. Even heavily wounded and low on chakra as we all were at that time, she was formidable. Using Shadow clones, Tsubaki was quick to flood the area while one of them was used to form a barrier around us in time for explosion after explosion was set off near anything that could breathe."

"It wasn't until the barrier fell that, what I had thought was a clone manning the barrier, was actually my friend. With pushing out so many clones, bombing an entire squad of Iwagakure shinobi, and maintaining a barrier it had left her drained of all chakra." Tsunade turned to Sakura. "The shitty part about that day is what came after. Kijuro still died due to infection from the numerous burns over his body even with round the clock care. Osamu disappeared after months of depression and possibly died of a broken heart as everyone of my generation knew how in love he was with Tsubaki."

Sakura was horrified that her shishou had to watch her friends die, but it was a war and many suffered death during those times. A hand rested on her shoulder bringing Sakura out of her mind to glance up at Tsunade, a hidden sadness gleaming in her eyes. "Never take for granted the ties you have to those you know in the shinobi world. Teammates become your friends. Teammates become your safety and trust. Teammates become your family. That day, I lost many teammates that were close to me."

Sakura couldn't find any words to say other than giving condolences. Tsunade gave a small smile, taking her hand away. "Though, I should be grateful she went out as she did and not in her sleep by her own kin."

"Why would her own kin kill her?" Sakura asked, confused.

"Ah, that's right, I never gave her full name. She was an Uchiha. I believe, a great aunt to your ex-teammate Sasuke, if she lived after that day." She stated crossing her arms under her breasts in thought. "Either way, she lived a decent life for a kunoichi, even to the end." Tsunade gave one last look to the corner with her pictures. "Come on, it's time for another lesson." With that said she walked away leaving Sakura to stand next to the pictures.

With a quick bow to them and hands pressed together she sent a quick prayer to their souls. As a way to let them know how grateful she was to them being by her shishou's side and for what they gave up. 'Be at peace and thank you for the sacrifice you have given.'

Note: This is not a true, true ending of this series. This was a possible idea that came to mind as an ending that would not leave my head. To be honest, I am divided on how to do later parts.

Also, I really should not ask, but a little curious.

Do you readers like this series? I'm not the best at writing but it is a hobby from time to time. Other than one other story, this has been a long one for me to keep writing for, as I have enjoyed forming it. I have come to find I enjoy the 'Becomes a father of a child not of their DNA' trope. I then came about being hyper focused on Tobirama.