At the outset, Sakura resisted this new reality. Despite all her acumen and experience, she refused to admit that the Rikudô Sennin could be right. It was an aberration, a conviction she maintained with an almost defiant assurance. After all, the world was currently enjoying a welcome respite, and nations were rising with renewed greatness. Wounds were healing, the dead rested in peace, and no shadow of hatred darkened the horizon.
The inaugural days post-victory were a whirlwind of emotions. Exultant joy at triumph mingled with the brutal reality of the colossal losses of the Fourth Great Shinobi War. Thousands of lives had extinguished, leaving the living to bear the weight of their memory. Comrades, friends, families, loved ones, all amalgamated with the enemy in a sad symphony of mourning.
Initially, each nation aspired to repatriate its deceased to provide a burial according to their customs. However, this task proved insurmountable as bodies decomposed rapidly, threatening to trigger devastating epidemics. The ravages of war extended beyond the bodies of the shinobi; civilians from entire villages were also caught in this turmoil.
Simultaneously, economic recovery and the normalization of daily life were pressing, burdened by the need to preserve the balance of the Elemental Nations. Mass graves emerged on the battlefields, where bodies, regardless of their flags, were piled and consumed within days. Only the most illustrious fighters deserved a burial in their homeland, immortalized by commemorative steles in each village, listing the names of all victims of the Fourth Great Shinobi War. Thus, the world would remember that global peace had been achieved at the cost of immeasurable sacrifices.
One month. That was the period Sakura had set for herself to decide the significance to attribute to the words of the old sage or simply to follow her own path.
To this end, she delved into the political intricacies of her village and her country as an apprentice to Tsunade Dentetsu No Sannin, the current Hokage of Konoha. Shinobi missions, mostly focused on reconstruction, food distribution, bandit management, and patrols, revealed an abundance of D and C-rank tasks, within the reach of any ninja.
However, she noticed a notable absence of diplomatic missions between nations. Each country seemed to seclude itself, ignoring its neighbors despite the newly acquired peace. This attitude resonated with the teachings of her master: "If you don't take care of yourself first, Sakura, and you perish, who will be left to save others?"
Sitting in the office of the Godaime Hokage, Sakura carefully examined the missions of the day.
"A lot of banditry," she murmured to herself, punctuating her reflection with a sigh.
She turned her gaze to Tsunade, behind her desk, busy filling out various documents. The war seemed to have intensified Tsunade Senju's zeal for her role as Hokage. Despite a few sips of sake on the sly, she took her duty seriously.
However, over the days, Sakura observed the situation worsen rather than improve. Banditry proliferated due to an obvious lack of manpower. C-rank missions sometimes descended to B-rank due to criminal gatherings.
"Tsunade-sama," Sakura called out wearily, interrupting her sensei's work.
The Hokage raised her eyes, momentarily stopping her writing, displaying a focused expression.
"Yes, Sakura?"
"My question might seem strange, but..."
"No question is stupid or strange, Sakura. There are only questions," Tsunade assured with a wisdom enveloped in the gentle repetitive creaking of the pen on paper.
"Do you think this peace will last?"
Sakura's unusual question caught Tsunade's attention. She interrupted her writing, fixing the young kunoichi with a curious and intrigued gaze.
"Why such a question, Sakura?" Tsunade asked, seeking to understand the source of her apprentice's concern, barely after the last war.
"I'm just wondering about humanity's ability to avoid repeating its mistakes," Sakura replied sincerely. She picked up the stack of papers deposited on the couch in her hands before straightening up to walk towards her master's desk.
"Unfortunately, Sakura, we can't prevent these things from happening, only anticipate them. Very few humans accept criticism, and even fewer acknowledge their mistakes. Asking them to learn from the mistakes of others is even more difficult to achieve," declared the blonde, leaning back in her chair, which emitted a slight creak due to its wear. Tsunade Senju observed her student carefully before reiterating her previous request: "What brings you to ask such a question, Sakura?"
"I've been coming here every morning for nearly three weeks to observe the routine of shinobi missions. Except for the S-rank missions that you don't allow me to study, some things worry me," admitted Sakura, delicately placing the documents on the wooden desk.
"Share your observations with me," declared the Sannin, placing her pen on the furniture before crossing her arms over her ample chest.
"Banditry and vandalism are increasing exponentially. Crime is reaching new heights in the civilian population, and some Nukenin have even joined gangs of thugs. They know that we lack manpower because of the last war, so they take advantage of it. It seems like they've learned nothing from that damn war! Besides, I haven't seen any diplomatic missions towards any shinobi village. Even your mail doesn't have an official seal from other nations," Sakura complained as she explained her reasoning.
"You've grown, Sakura," the older woman observed proudly.
"The war forced me to grow up."
The scars of war mark every individual, but they leave a deeper imprint when people are confronted with the reality of conflict. Everyone who had survived the last battle had inevitably matured in their perception of the world. Sakura was no exception: she had been on the front lines, she had seen the horrors of war. How many lives had she healed? How many had she saved? How many had she lost? Tsunade could only observe this change in the attitude and gaze of the young woman: yes, she had changed. She was no longer the self-doubting teenager, hiding behind the power of her teammates. The war had inevitably left its marks on the pink-haired kunoichi.
"To address your concerns, I can tell you that they are well-founded and understandable. Our military system has lost a significant number of troops, explaining the surge in banditry. But most of the bandits are just civilians, easily manageable."
"So why not deal with them right away, sensei?" Sakura protested, concerned about the idea of innocents enduring violence after all they had already endured.
"Because we can't be everywhere, Sakura. Hi No Kuni is vast and not limited to Konoha No Sato. Moreover, other issues require our simultaneous attention: rebuilding our homes, reviving our economy, replenishing our reserves. Famine would be one of the worst things that could happen to us right now. That's one of the reasons being Hokage is so difficult because I choose to make sacrifices for the well-being of the majority."
Tsunade swiveled her wheeled chair towards the windows and stood up. She walked towards the windows, clasping her hands behind her back, gazing at her village.
"As for diplomatic relations with other countries, I would say that each manages the situation internally. A trust has been established for everyone to leave each other alone. Furthermore, no one would be foolish enough to trigger a new conflict now, especially with the current generation."
"What would we do if someone ever...," Sakura began before being interrupted by her master.
"We still have many S-rank ninjas in the village, including Naruto and potentially Sasuke, even though he is in prison for his treason against Konoha," added the Godaime, trying to reassure.
However, one of the phrases of the Rikudô Sennin made complete sense to Sakura as soon as her master finished speaking. And it kept resonating in her mind: * For how long? *
Certainly, Naruto and Sasuke, the two powerful ninjas of their time, were not immune to the consequences of their last confrontation. There was no guarantee that they would not bear the scars of this battle in the future. And even if they recovered from their injuries, the day would come when they would leave this world to join the realm of the dead. Despite the wish that this day be as distant as possible, immortality was not inscribed in human nature, and even these two exceptional ninjas would not escape it, as powerful as they were.
It was at that moment that Sakura realized she had to take the words of the hermit seriously. She had to be prepared to eventually go back in time. But for what purpose?
At this point, she had not yet decided on the fate she would reserve for Uchiha Madara. The memories of the war were still too fresh in her mind, and her resentment towards this individual persisted. She glanced at her master before deciding to speak, her decision was made.
"Tsunade-sama, I would like to make a request."
"Hmmm?"
"I would like... uh, how to say... I know it may seem ill-timed and selfish of me, but I would like the opportunity to visit the vast world. To be able to help as many people as possible, provide support to those who don't have any," she finally declared after a slight hesitation.
Tsunade remained silent, minutes passing heavily for Sakura as her mistress scrutinized her request. The medical team could manage without her, given the significant reduction in serious injuries. The old woman was looking for arguments to justify a possible refusal, in vain. She finally turned back to her desk.
Promptly pulling out a splendid scroll, reserved for important circumstances, she diligently filled it out, creating an official document. Tsunade took her wax heater, letting a drop melt at the bottom of the page. She then affixed the Hokage's seal, giving the document undeniable and unquestionable authenticity.
"Haruno Sakura, for your acts of bravery and heroism towards the nation of Hi No Kuni, as well as all Elemental Nations, I accept your request. It pains me, however, to lose someone of your caliber, but I understand your motivations and approve of your choice," Tsunade concluded, extending the rolled-up parchment towards Sakura.
A smile blossomed on the concerned woman's face, even though a question persisted within her: * For how long? *
From that day forward, Haruno Sakura took the reins of her destiny.
She had only twenty-three months left before her journey to the past.
12 months remaining.
Eleven months had passed since Sakura embarked on her journey through the Elemental Nations to execute her plan. Although she still hadn't found the answer to how she would confront Uchiha Madara, she had no intention of sitting idle in the era of the Shinobi Gods.
Her journey across all countries revealed to her that despite the peace, poverty persisted. Many villages lacked essential resources to sustain themselves properly. Some suffered from famine due to extortion orchestrated by thugs, while others had to relocate following the destruction of their homes during the war. Some were critically lacking in medical care, and Sakura willingly offered her help and knowledge.
Just two months into her journey, Sakura realized a crucial truth: the world was governed by money. It stood as a universal remedy for all trials. Regardless of social class, money remained at the center of all concerns. Those without it strived to acquire it, while those who already possessed it tirelessly sought to accumulate more. Thus, every situation became an opportunity for a financial transaction.
Repeatedly, Sakura witnessed village or town leaders paying their neighbors simply to buy food and meet the needs of their people. She also observed how money was used to solve other problems, such as local banditry, where it was enough to pay mercenaries to eliminate the disruptors. Although she was aware that this was not a revelation in how the world operated, being directly confronted with these realities broadened her mind and changed her way of thinking, making her more flexible and less rigid.
Money emerged as the linchpin of the solution!
Faced with this reality, Sakura decided she could not risk joining the Sengoku era empty-handed. She chose to leverage her fame as a war heroine and her privileged status as an apprentice of the illustrious Tsunade Dentetsu No Sannin to accumulate a substantial fortune.
Traversing the various Elemental Nations, she contracted enormous loans. In doing so, Sakura understood that to persuade financial institutions to grant the colossal sums requested, she had to present them with ambitious projects, generating huge profits for the bank, regardless of the project's real viability or its utility for the respective country.
Thus, money called for money.
By accumulating loan after loan, Sakura managed to amass several million Ryôs. She thus became one of the wealthiest individuals in all Elemental Nations, paradoxically rising to the top of historical indebtedness.
This path had toughened Sakura, depriving her of any scruples when it came to appropriating the wealth of the countries she traversed. She made the decision to return to the past when the time came, dismissing any concerns about repaying her debts, as the world as she knew it would no longer exist.
However, this considerable fortune took up a lot of space, to the point that it would have been unfortunate if news of her significant sums got out. Fortunately, Sakura's sagacity, combined with her training with Tsunade, allowed her to find a solution to this dilemma: Fûinjutsu, also known as the art of seals.
Sakura was not just a simple medical ninja with impressive physical strength. On the contrary, the young woman stood out for her sharp intelligence, and Tsunade taught her medical Fûinjutsu without delving into the details of this complex art. She revealed the essential formulas to apply to specific parts of the body to achieve precise results. So far, the pink-haired kunoichi had simply memorized them without truly understanding their implementation. Certainly practical, but extremely risky.
During the war, Sakura discovered that some of her peers mastered much more than the modest formulas she knew. They had the ability to create them on demand, or rather for each medical case requiring the use of a seal. It was at this moment that she became more deeply interested in this ninja art.
It was a revelation for her because, in her eyes, it was simply a fusion of mathematics and the twelve Mudrâs that every ninja used to perform Ninjutsu techniques. She was far from claiming to reach the level of the late Jiraya Dentetsu No Sannin, and even further from the Fourth Hokage or any self-respecting Uzumaki at their peak. Nevertheless, Sakura did not give up hope of reaching their level one day. That's why she invested in the rare books she found on the subject, seeking to improve on her own.
Thus, thanks to Fûinjutsu, Sakura succeeded in concealing all the accumulated wealth, without anyone suspecting the extent of her riches.
7 months remaining.
During her journey, Sakura rarely returned to the hidden village of Konoha. When she did, it was for very specific reasons, such as the inauguration ceremony of the Rokudaime Hokage, Kakashi Hatake. On that day, it was more than enough reason to achieve two goals with one stone.
"So, Naruto, not too disappointed that you didn't manage to take the hat from Tsunade-sama as you predicted?" teased Sakura with a big smile.
They were currently both at Ichikaru Ramen, sharing a pleasant moment. The young woman noticed that the blonde had grown a lot, seemed calmer since Iruka-sensei had taken charge of his training.
"Well! It's not a big deal, Sakura-chan. Kakashi-sensei and Iruka-sensei are preparing me to be the next one, so it will be twice as enjoyable to take it," Naruto replied with a broad smile. "And you, Sakura-chan, do you plan to finally stay in the village, or will you continue to travel?"
"I think I'll stay for a few days... in fact, the main reason for my return to Konoha is you, Naruto."
"Me?" Uzumaki exclaimed, surprised that his friend was focusing her attention on him.
"Don't get any ideas, Naruto. I need you to teach me something," Sakura clarified, anticipating any confusion her blonde comrade might have about her intentions.
"What could I possibly teach you? I remind you that between the two of us, you're the smarter one."
"Do you remember when we were on the battlefield facing Obito and Madara?" Sakura asked as the sound of slurping noodles began to be heard from Naruto's side.
"Too well, unfortunately."
"I need to know in more detail how you managed to regenerate Kakashi-sensei's eye. I know you gave me a brief explanation that day, but it wasn't enough for me to understand."
Sakura picked up her chopsticks, dipped them into her bowl, and savored a few bites of her own ramen. It might not have been her favorite dish, but it gave her the opportunity to share a pleasant moment with her friend.
"You can thank our teachers because, thanks to their lessons, I think I can explain it more easily than back then... Teuchi-Jiji! Another bowl of miso, please!" Naruto shouted as his first bowl was barely finished.
"Alright, Naruto!" replied the old man who, since the end of the war, had seen his clientele increase exponentially.
"I think my regeneration technique is somewhat the same principle as the Infûin Kai: Seal Release added to the Sôzô Saise: Creation and Renewal of Tsunade-baachan, which are considered Kinjutsu," Naruto explained while keeping an eye on the chef preparing his favorite noodle bowl.
"Tsunade-sama never wanted to teach me her second technique, saying that it could kill me in the process," Sakura confessed.
"Unlike Tsunade-baachan, who forces her own cells to multiply rapidly to repair her vital organs or any other injury, my method is safe. I use a part of the person... one or two cells are enough, and from that, I use the surrounding chakra thanks to Senjutsu to trigger the mitosis process. This avoids using the patient's chakra or physical energy, thus avoiding a reduction in their lifespan," the blonde explained with precision.
Sakura was impressed by her friend's mastery, acknowledging that the noisy little boy she had once deemed carefree had disappeared. In his place, he had evolved into a composed and thoughtful man, capable of understanding and articulating complex concepts. Naruto was seriously preparing to become the next Hokage, and he seemed destined to excel in that role, according to her. However, she did not allow her thoughts to stray in that direction, as she needed answers for her future project.
"Do you think it would be possible to do it without using Senjutsu?" she asked, knowing that she did not master this particular technique of the hermit.
At that moment, Naruto frowned, crossing his arms in a deeply thoughtful posture. He remained in this position for a few minutes, and even when Teuchi placed his new ramen bowl in front of him, he did not lose his concentration.
"Yes... it's possible," he finally answered with conviction.
At the hearing of these words, a faint smile appeared on Sakura's face, suddenly overwhelmed by a surge of hope.
"How?" she hastened to ask.
The blonde, somewhat surprised by his friend's reaction but delighted to share this moment with her, continued his explanations enthusiastically.
"What makes my technique safer than the one used by Baa-chan is that Senjutsu chakra, once mastered, represents the very essence of nature. Thus, a balance is created in the patient's body so that the cells regenerate without affecting their lifespan. So, in the absence of Senjutsu, you would have to be able to separate the cells you want to use for regeneration before reconnecting them to the patient. This aims to avoid affecting the rest of the human body, but it would require extraordinary chakra control."
"But how can you regenerate an entire eye with just two cells? The composition of an eye is extremely complex and consists of millions of different cells," the young woman marveled.
"Sorry, Sakura-chan, I'm not as sharp on the subject as you, so I wouldn't be able to explain it to you in more detail. But I see it this way: when I use Senjutsu, chakra regenerates the eye by itself, as if the body remembers how everything should be placed... as if... ummm... as if we had a formula in each of us to make ourselves," Naruto tried to explain.
"DNA..." she murmured just as he had finished his attempt at explanation.
"No idea what DNA is, Sakura-chan," he admitted spontaneously before more seriously and greedily starting on his still steaming ramen bowl.
Meanwhile, Sakura's brain was racing, generating many theories. The evolution of scientific knowledge had led to the discovery that the basic structural unit of all living beings was the cell and the existence of the genetic code. This code simply allowed the functioning of the human body from the conception of a child. Indeed, it was the expression of the genetic code that allowed cell division, just as the differentiation and specialization of these same cells. These then became tissues, then organs, and so on until the entire body was formed. Remembering this very fact, Sakura began to find her own solutions to the questions she had been asking herself for some time.
"Thank you, Naruto. I think I understand the principle. However, I believe that to compensate for the absence of Senjutsu chakra, the person attempting this regeneration will have to do it step by step."
"Glad I could help, Sakura-chan," Naruto replied with a dazzling smile, not really understanding how he had helped his friend, but it was enough to make him happy.
"Naruto... can we take a photo of the two of us together, please?" the young woman asked with a soft and fragile voice.
"Of course! Ayame-neechan! Can you come, please!" shouted the blonde as he usually did.
4 months remaining.
Name No Kuni, the Land of Waves, had changed a lot in ten years. Since the construction of the Great Naruto Bridge, it had managed to recover from Gatō's tyranny. So, filled with nostalgia, Sakura headed towards Tazuna's house.
The house hadn't changed much, except for a few small improvements here and there. She just hoped that the carpenter hadn't moved away over all these years. But her worry ceased as soon as she heard the familiar voice of the occupant after knocking on the door of the house.
Tazuna opened the door and remained briefly speechless in front of the lovely young woman with pink hair standing before him. Her face was gentle, and the smile she had took his breath away.
"Hello, Tazuna-san. It's been a long time since we last saw each other," she said softly with a touch of nostalgia.
"Sakura? Sakura, is that really you?" asked the man, not quite sure it was her when he saw the color of her hair. But when the young woman nodded with a beautiful smile, his doubts vanished. "My goodness, Sakura, how you've grown... you've become a beautiful young woman now."
The concerned one couldn't help but blush a little at the compliment. She wasn't used to receiving compliments on her appearance from men. In fact, she just offered another smile, a bit more timid, to the old carpenter.
"But come in! What brings you here? Aren't Naruto and Sasuke with you?" he asked, opening the door wide while gesturing for the cherry blossom to enter.
The interior of the house hadn't changed, and it brought back sweet memories as she followed Tazuna to the dining room. They settled around the table after the man had placed refreshments. The young woman initiated the conversation to avoid any awkwardness between them.
"I need your services, Tazuna-san," she stated clearly. "I need you to design plans for a house, but not just any style of house," she specified so that the carpenter could take notes of her requirements.
"And what style would you like for your house?"
"I want it to be in the style of the Sengoku era and built in the manner of that time. I also want you to imagine and craft the interior of the house with furniture from that era. Additionally, once the plans for the house are finished, I need you to prepare all the parts of the said house ready to be assembled."
"Uh... you don't want us to build your house?" the carpenter asked, surprised by the somewhat unusual request from the young woman.
"No, I plan to have my house built far from here. I come to you for your reputation, Tazuna-san, and because I know you'll be able to fulfill my request," she explained calmly.
The man nodded, smiling proudly that she had thought of him for this project.
"All right, what are the deadlines imposed?"
"You have less than four months to prepare everything, no delays will be tolerated. Use as many people as you need in the realization of my order, and if it's an issue of money, I'm willing to pay three times the normally expected price for such a project."
"I'll have to put some of my other projects aside then. But I think it's doable. How long will you be staying?"
"Just long enough to have a few sketches of the house plan, then I won't return until four months later."
3 days remaining.
Sakura went through the surroundings one last time to ensure everything was in order before her departure. She meticulously checked that each item was properly sealed and placed in its designated spot. Undoubtedly, the young woman carried with her an eclectic assortment of belongings. Not only money, furniture, or the materials needed for the construction of her future home, but also a collection of books, ranging from medicine, politics, history, to Fūinjutsu. In two years of travel, Sakura had gathered a rich source of information for her projects.
With these resources, she envisioned facing the challenges of the First, Second, and Third Great Shinobi Wars. However, what mattered most to her was her photo album. In the last month, she had captured many moments in images, freezing her friends, mentors, and family in tangible memories. She had realized, as the deadline approached, that all those dear to her might never exist in the reality she was about to transform. That's why it seemed essential, even vital, to dedicate time to each of them.
She had shared moments with her best friend, Ino, engaging in deep conversations while exploring the city's shops. Entire evenings were spent with her dear mentor, frequenting the casino's gaming halls and enjoying sake. Moments with her best friend, Naruto, and her sensei were not neglected, adding laughter and adventures to her days. However, her hopes for sharing special moments with Sasuke, her love, had been disappointed. He had remained in prison for a long period before finally being released. But after his release, he had chosen to leave the village to explore the world.
It was in these activities and thoughts that Sakura was interrupted by the arrival of a messenger bird. Its familiar silhouette left no doubt about its origin, and the small ring on its leg only confirmed the message's source. Carefully, she took the message, letting the bird take flight again.
Haruno Sakura,
The current situation urgently requires your immediate return to the village of Konoha No Sato, in the interest of national security.
Sixth Hokage
At that precise moment, the words of the venerable Rikudo resonated in her mind once again: "For how long?"
Thus, she hurried to gather her belongings before heading towards Konoha. Perhaps one last look at her roots would reassure her, confirming that she was about to do what was right.
Last day.
"From the beginning, he knew," Sakura whispered to herself.
Back in her village, Sakura immediately sought clarification from her Kage. That's where she discovered that the cycle of hatred was resuming its ominous course. This time, the world was threatened with extermination by Toneri Ōtsutsuki, determined to drop the moon onto Earth in retaliation for the acts committed against Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.
The Sixth Hokage assigned her the mission to join a small team tasked with finding the heiress of the Hyūga clan, kidnapped by Toneri. However, upon arriving at the village, she found that the team had already left without her. Sakura was then ordered to catch up with them and assist in their mission. Instead of heading towards her comrades, she directed herself towards the Valley of the End, with a well-defined goal in mind.
"So, it's now that everything is at stake?"
Sakura stood at the top of the waterfall in the Valley of the End, between the two partially destroyed statues of the two greatest ninjas of the Sengoku era.
She felt neither doubt nor fear; her decision was irrevocable. With confidence, she took out the case entrusted to her by Rikudō Sennin two years earlier, opened it, and withdrew a beautiful scroll.
"I apologize, Naruto... unfortunately, I won't be there to see you become Hokage," Sakura whispered before opening the scroll.
However, nothing happened. The scroll was blank, devoid of any writing. No chakra manifestation surrounded Sakura, and the scenery remained unchanged.
"Did I make a mistake?" she wondered, before an unexpected voice surprised her from behind.
"You didn't think a simple scroll could, on its own, take you back to the past, my child?" declared the legendary Rikudō Sennin with humor.
"Ōtsutsuki-sama!" she exclaimed, quickly turning around, completely taken aback to find him there.
"This scroll had the sole purpose of bringing me back to you when you made a decision, and here I am," explained the old man with a certain mischief as he approached her. "So... have you made a decision?"
Sakura turned her gaze to the moon, which had dangerously approached the planet in recent days. She thought about everything she had learned in two years and the cycle of hatred returning to the agenda.
"Yes! You were right from the beginning; it's just an eternal recurrence, and the cycle of hatred is back."
Sakura locked her eyes with the man in front of her to convey her determination before continuing:
"I accept your offer to go back to the past and thus change things."