Chapter 16: Leaving Wave
Two weeks had passed, and the village rallied together to finish the bridge. The stronger villagers focused on its construction while women and smaller men prepared food and helped set up shops that had been repaired since the arrival of the ninja.
Sakura treated the remaining minor ailments and suggested they request proper medical support from the Leaf Village as part of their treaty negotiations. Shikamaru quickly added this to the treaty demands, acknowledging Sakura's hard work and care for the villagers.
Initially skeptical of the young shinobi, the village elders had come to appreciate the teams' contributions far beyond their original missions. If the people of the Leaf were anything like these ninjas, then an alliance was worth pursuing.
After the battle and drafting of the treaty, Sakura returned to Zabuza's base for a final meeting before she and her team headed back to the Leaf Village. Ever since the confrontation, she had been avoiding Kakashi, who wanted to interrogate her for an evaluation at T . This meeting served as her perfect excuse to buy herself a little peace.
Asuma later explained that Sakura's training differed from that of most Leaf nin at their age. Her ability to recognize and handle danger had unnerved some of the other sensei. He had even glanced at her the previous night, asking if she needed to talk about the battle.
Sakura replied that every shinobi eventually had to make their first kill. In her eyes, the men terrorizing the villagers had left her no choice; the only way to protect the innocent was to end their threat. She assured Asuma she would seek counseling if she started experiencing nightmares or anxiety.
Shikamaru nodded in agreement. "I hate to say it, but she's right. We're all going to face it eventually, and at least there was a reason behind it that aligned with our mission." He glanced at Asuma, who met Kakashi's gaze. "Those guys weren't going to stop. They intended to take her if they could; it was kill or be killed."
Sasuke and Chouji silently nodded, while Naruto looked pale, having also taken lives during the battle. Ino watched her teammates with sympathy, knowing Naruto hadn't been mentally prepared for such a traumatic experience.
Her eyes narrowed as she glared at Kakashi, upset about the situation he had put her friends in. Shocking Naruto into his first kill wasn't the right way to handle things. She resolved to recommend her father speak with Naruto when they returned home.
Sakura reassured Ino that she was okay. She didn't enjoy taking lives, but she wouldn't regret her actions. Regret had no place in a world where she couldn't change the past. She nearly scoffed at herself but managed to contain her amusement.
Leaning against the wall of the hut, she felt a sense of relief wash over her. Either Zabuza and Haku had already departed or would return for one last sweep. For now, she was free from Kakashi's probing questions.
She glanced around, fondly recalling Zabuza and Haku's surprise at her first visit. The Demon Brothers had been sent to scout for Hoshigaki, making the deception easier to maintain on the bridge, as Gato believed them dead.
Sakura was pulled from her thoughts by the sound of shuffling cloth. "Getting ready to head out?" she asked.
"Yeah, we'll be gone before noon. Haku, grab your supplies. We're meeting up with those louts," Zabuza replied, his voice gruff as Haku dutifully complied. Zabuza turned his gaze to Sakura. "Those warnings you gave came in handy. I have a few leads on Kisame. Any clues?"
"Black cloaks with red clouds," Sakura said softly. "If they've recruited him, we need to be cautious. Make sure he's alone before engaging." She added, "I plan to approach a few of them later, but it's too dangerous right now."
"Things need to align, I assume?" Zabuza asked, his tone gruff.
Sakura's emerald eyes met his. "I'm not free to move yet. Once I'm older or have a higher rank, I'll have more freedom to seek out whom I need, assuming my missions don't take me in that direction. I just have to keep proving myself useful to earn that freedom. There are too many people relying on me to prevent the disasters of my world."
Zabuza and Haku exchanged surprised looks. Sakura smirked at them, saying, "What? I know I can't save everyone. Only naive kids dream of a perfect world. I'll save as many as I can and accept the losses where I must."
Zabuza ruffled her hair affectionately before heading for the door, Haku following with a grateful smile and wave.
Sakura sighed, relaxing in the hut's warmth until a familiar pug appeared from the brush. She lifted Pakkun and hugged him gently, scratching behind his ears. "Time to go?"
"Yes, Sakura-hime. It's time to head back home," Pakkun replied kindly.
Sakura laughed. "You knew it was me all along."
Pakkun chuckled, "Pups, summons exist outside of time and space. We won't reveal anything about you; it's not our place."
Sakura patted him on the head. "Thanks, Pakkun… is it strange that Konoha doesn't feel like home anymore?"
The pug considered her words. "In your case, probably not. You've always been tied to the Leaf, but with everything you've been sent to fix, your world has expanded beyond just Naruto and Sasuke." He turned to face her. "You're not who you were, and fate is taking you away. Who knows what that will mean for your final destination?"
A bittersweet smile crept across Sakura's face as she walked to join her team, ignoring Kakashi's surprised expression at seeing her with Pakkun. She placed him down gently, promising to bake treats for him when she had the chance.
As Pakkun returned to Kakashi, the man asked, "What was that about?"
"She smells like me; I like her," Pakkun said, his grin widening. Sakura snickered, recalling her childish reaction the first time he had said that to her. It was one of the moments that had deepened their bond.
Sakura rejoined her team, where smiles and laughter filled the air. Ino was venting her frustrations about the slow pace of their departure while Asuma rested a hand on her shoulder. They all shared one last look at the village they had saved. Sakura laughed at the tearful farewell between Naruto and Inari, who had bonded like brothers.
Inari stepped forward, holding out a pair of scissors. Confused, Sakura took them. He led her to Tazuna, who smiled and gestured toward a ribbon symbolizing the grand opening of the bridge.
Sakura returned the scissors to Inari, wrapping her hands around his as they both looked down. Realization dawned on his face, and he lifted their hands, snipping the ribbon together. Applause erupted from the gathered crowd. Sakura handed the scissors to Tsunami and hugged Inari tightly.
"Come back and visit soon, big sis!" Inari exclaimed, waving goodbye.
Tazuna chuckled. "The Great Blossom Bridge," he said, dismissing the confusion on Sakura's and Ino's faces. "For the two young women who protected what was most precious to me and made all of this possible."
Ino and Sakura exchanged a happy glance, smiling through their tears. They bowed together, saying, "It was a pleasure and an honor to meet every single one of you!" Rising, they waved before rushing ahead, too emotional to say anything more. They clasped hands, opening their teary eyes to the future.
"Isn't that why you work so hard, Sakura?" Ino asked softly, another piece of her friend's complex puzzle falling into place.
"If my work brings a smile to even one person, it's worth it, Ino," Sakura replied, glancing back at their team, who hesitated to approach. "Look at the cowards. They don't know how to handle a girl's happy tears."
Ino laughed with Sakura as they kept their hands linked. "Hey, slowpokes! Get a move on already!" she called out, teasing their teammates.
Their laughter faded, the sound of Naruto's loud voice cutting through the air. "Girls, I don't get it! One minute they're crying, and the next they're smiling! Talk about mood swings!"
Ino grumbled, "Oh, I'll show him a mood swing!" She turned to retaliate, but Sakura linked their arms.
"Nope, not letting a stray comment from a boy ruin my mood, and neither should you. Isn't the mystery of our moods half the fun?" Sakura winked, leading them away from the villagers.
Unbeknownst to them, four figures had remained to listen to Sakura's heartfelt words during the battle. One of them cracked his neck, a dangerous smirk crossing his face. "Huh, wonder what Zabuza wants to see me for? Maybe a spar like old times, hmm?"
As he departed with one of the villagers, another with green eyes studied the village closely as they moved on. He had bounties to collect, and the shark had a comrade to find.
Meanwhile, behind them stood a man with ringed eyes and a woman adorned with paper flowers. The man surveyed the area with interest before approaching Tazuna's family, removing his cloak. His partner followed suit.
Tazuna looked taken aback, his expression guarded. "Can we help you?"
"Tell me about the girl who was here. The one they call Sakura." The man's voice was firm, bordering on demanding.
"Please forgive him; he can be quite forceful," the woman interjected gently, offering a warm smile to Inari.
Inari, his eyes bright with enthusiasm, chimed in, "Sakura from the Leaf! She's the best ninja ever! Who are you, Miss? And Mister?"
"We're just travelers, but we've heard whispers about an angel with pink hair and had to inquire," the woman replied kindly. "You can call me Angel."
Her partner observed her with a hint of sadness. This angel had always yearned for a family, but their dangerous lifestyle had stripped her of that dream, leaving them too nomadic to settle down.
Tsunami stepped forward, a fond smile on her face. "Sakura came as an ambassador from her village to negotiate a treaty, while the other Leaf team served as bodyguards for my father. They did so much more than that during their stay. Sakura healed our people and cooked for us often. Her comrades, Sasuke and Naruto, contributed by helping rebuild our homes, shops, and boats, and they played with the children. Chouji assisted with food preparation, while Shikamaru helped set up herbalists and the medical clinic alongside Sakura, making it easier to care for the injured. Asuma and Kakashi took to hunting, and they all worked hard with the bridge builders to expedite construction. Sakura even approached Zabuza and his apprentice, offering to ally with them—personally, not on behalf of her village. Her Hokage approved it."
Tsunami looked at the pair with gratitude in her eyes. "Even without a guarantee of a treaty, they improved our lives in countless ways. Most importantly, Sakura saved my son and my family. That's a debt I can never truly repay."
Both travelers bowed respectfully to the family. "Thank you for satisfying our curiosity," they said before turning to leave.
As they exited the village, the man addressed his partner. "Pein?"
"She is an angel whose soul is greater than she realizes. I wonder if she will be a friend or foe when the time comes," Pein mused.
"I don't believe someone like the Tsunami you described could ever truly be our enemy—unless we threaten those she's vowed to protect," Konan replied sincerely.
"Hmmm, only time will tell, Konan," Pein concluded, guiding his partner back toward their base in their home village of Ame.
