Chapter 1
Chapter 1: The Return
Sakura rubbed her tired eyes as she walked through the gates of Konoha. Her pink hair, tied in a messy ponytail, was visibly disheveled—a clear sign she had just returned from yet another grueling S-rank mission. The two gate guards gasped in surprise before bowing deeply.
“Lady Haruno!” they exclaimed in unison.
She shot them a sharp glare, waving them off. “Oi, stop that,” she snapped, clicking her tongue. Sakura was the last Senju in Konoha and had long surpassed her estranged, absent mother. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but she had come to terms with it. Her past was complicated, but she wasn’t about to let it slow her down now.
Her mind, however, was far from her strained welcome. It wandered to her adopted son—her beloved Naruto. The rambunctious ball of energy that never seemed to stop moving, no matter how much she tried to keep up. It had only been a short while since she officially took him in, and already he was more than she could handle. She couldn't help but smile fondly. His boundless spirit, his unrelenting mischief, and his infectious grin were all things she had grown to love deeply. He must've inherited that from his mother, she thought with a wistful sigh. After all, Sakura was just a child herself when Naruto was orphaned, too busy surviving in the wake of the attack. She was only seven when the Nine-Tails destroyed the village.
Once she graduated early from the Academy, she rose through the ranks quickly, taking on missions to protect him in secret. The fifth Hokage, Fugaku Uchiha, understood her situation and, in his way, supported her efforts, keeping Naruto's Jinchuriki status tightly guarded. Yet, even with his protection, a traitor had revealed Naruto’s true identity to the village. The whispers, the hurtful looks, and the hatred were unbearable. But over time, people began to change. As Sakura made herself more involved with Naruto, helping him grow stronger and more confident, the animosity began to fade. She could see the light in his eyes again, and that made it all worth it.
But today was different. Today, she had to tell him the truth—the truth about his parents and the real story behind the Nine-Tails attack. The weight of it felt unbearable. The usually strong, composed 18-year-old Senju found herself struggling against the heaviness in her chest, the quiet sorrow she had carried for so long.
“Today is the day...” Sakura thought, her emerald eyes clouded with worry as she rubbed her forehead. The diamond-shaped seal on her skin glowed faintly, a constant reminder of the power she had unlocked, of the strength and resolve she had cultivated over the years. Yet, no matter how many battles she’d fought or how much power she had gained, nothing could fully prepare her for this moment.
As she walked through the familiar streets of Konoha, she reached out with her senses, trying to feel Naruto’s chakra signature. Her heart sank when she realized he was up to something, though she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what. She could almost feel the mischievous grin plastered on his face from miles away.
“Oh boy,” she muttered under her breath, shaking her head. “What has that brat gotten himself into this time?”
But even though she sighed, she couldn’t help the smile tugging at her lips. She didn’t mind his pranks—not when it meant he was happy. It meant he was still living freely, still finding joy in a world that had once been so cruel to him. The thought warmed her heart as she quickened her pace. She couldn’t wait to see the stupid blond brat and finally tell him the truth.