Chunin
Chapter 19
A week after the chunin exams had ended, Sakura found herself along with her team called to the Hokage’s Tower bright and early. Walking through the streets alongside Anko, Izumi and Naori, Sakura noticed people looking their way. Excited whispers followed them and while a few still looked at the three genin with suspicion, far more looked starstruck. It was an odd feeling, one Sakura certainly wasn’t expecting as she looked first to Izumi, who was shifting between nervous and delighted, then to Anko, who was wearing a massive grin that stretched her cheeks and crinkled her eyes.
“Well this is a nice change,” Naori noted as they group opened the door to the hokage’s tower. Sakura glanced back up at her teacher and nodded. It was hard to believe that only a few years ago she was a terrified, shy little girl and now she was a shinobi and not just any shinobi, she was the youngest to graduate the academy since the legendary copy-nin.
“It’s odd,” Izumi’s voice was jittery and Naori chuckled happily at her genin’s nerves. The truth was, Naori knew that nobody was ready for an officer’s rank. Commanding soldiers in life or death situations just wasn’t something you could truly prepare for. Ten year old children certainly weren’t ready, yet the powers that be had convinced themselves that anyone with a headband was an adult and would be expected to act as such. At least in Mizu nobody tried to justify the madness and just admitted to it without filter.
“Your matches were watched by most of the village. All of the clan heads, a large chunk of the active duty shinobi, ANBU provided security, you three put on quite the show.” Naori said cheerfully and knocked on the Hokage’s office door. A moment later a muffled ‘come in’ had them entering the room to find Uchiha Itachi standing alone with no sensei in sight. Sakura once again wondered just what Team Two was like and was silently grateful that Team Seven wasn’t whatever Team Two was.
“Good, everyone is here.” Hiruzen showed a grandfatherly smile to those gathered before him. Smoke drifted up from his pipe, then curled around the rim of his ceremonial hat and Sakura wondered idly if it bothered his eyes. Beside her, her teammates shifted nervously because they all knew why they were here. They were being considered for promotion. “Congratulations, all four of you have proven that Konohagakure has a bright future ahead of it. It is my pleasure to announce your promotions to chunin, may your will of fire never fade.”
All four children received their vests in a stunned silence. Behind them, Naori silently thought back to the last genin team that had reached that rank on their first try. The sannin were famous for their exploits and right now she had a team that had just beaten their record, if only because Sakura wasn’t even six years old. She was the youngest chunin in the history of Konohagakure, beating Hatake Kakashi by three months.
“Now then, it has come to my attention that Uchiha Naori has requested to take Uchiha Izumi and Mitarashi Anko on as personal apprentices.” Hiruzen’s voice caught the newly minted chunin by surprise and four pairs of eyes shifted to Naori who flashed a rather nasty grin towards the hokage.
“I’d take Sakura as well, if she didn’t want to learn iryo-ninjutsu. If she ever changes her mind, the form is filled out and waiting.” Naori’s words set Sakura’s racing heart at ease. The rosette hadn’t even realized she was starting to panic until she began to calm down. “You need time to grow in safety. Field missions are going to be far too dangerous for you. The other villages will be gunning for you right now and you’re just too young for that kind of attention.” Naori’s words further soothed Sakura’s rattled nerves and the jounin gave her a small but affectionate smile. “You’re more then welcome to seek me out whenever you want. You have the key to my apartment and you’re always welcome, even if I’m not there.”
“Thank you Naori-sensei.” Sakura murmured and hugged her vest tightly. This was an ending of sorts, a new beginning to, but Sakura wasn’t focused on that side of things right now. Team Seven had been her second taste of family, Izumi and Anko were her sisters and Naori almost a mother. She loved them all dearly and it was only the presence of the hokage that stopped her chakra from burning free with the sadness of this parting.
“We’re going to have weekly meetings.” Anko stated, placing a hand on Sakura’s head. “I’m not losing my favorite shark toothed friend to poor scheduling. A weekly practice session and dinner.”
“I agree sensei, we need to keep training with Sakura-chan so her combat skills don’t get rusty. Besides I need her for my kenjutsu, she’s the only one that can use it besides me and she’s helped me so much!” Izumi chimed in, rounding on Naori who could not contain her pride. The woman’s eyes bled crimson and her smile was wide and warm.
“Of course, we’ll work something out once Sakura-chan here knows her schedule at the hospital.” Naori promised and Hiruzen gave the woman a happy smile. Once again, he was reminded that Naori wasn’t like the other Uchiha, she lacked the pride, arrogance and coldness that so defined them. He knew that things were heating up slowly with the cursed clan and right now he needed to ensure that he didn’t lose salvageable pieces to the coming storm.
“Now then, all of you have things to attend to I’m sure. Sakura-chan, Itachi-kun, could you please go out into the hallway, take a left and enter the second room on your right?” Hiruzen asked and the two children gave him a blank look before shrugging. It was obvious they were confused but they followed orders and quickly left. “Anko-chan, Izumi-chan, you two are dismissed, you can wait for your sensei outside if you want but I need a quick word with her.”
“Hokage-sama?” Naori asked, her expression becoming serious as she met Hiruzen’s stern gaze. The woman didn’t look at all put upon or bothered. She listened to orders, did as she was told and always put the village first. It was why Hiruzen was even considering this in the first place. He had hand picked her for Team Seven and she had delivered. If the sharingan was going to be salvaged from the disaster that was the current Uchiha clan, Naori and Izumi were the best hope for a less volatile, more controllable clan and it said a lot that a woman whose blood ran thick with the saltwater of the isles was more tempered and controlled then the pure blooded Uchiha.
“The council voted to restore Izumi’s place within the Senju Clan. Her father was a Senju, as you know and when she turns eighteen if Tsunade-chan hasn’t returned, Izumi will take up the mantle as the Senju clan head and Konoha’s last Senju.” Hiruzen watched as realization dawned on Naori’s face. Instead of surprise or scandal that could be expected from an ordinary Uchiha, she looked pleased. Still, she didn’t smile or show a hint of emotion beyond a slight shift of tension around her eyes. “Furthermore, Mitarashi Anko still needs to be kept under watch, both in case Orochimaru seeks out revenge or she proves to have lingering emotions, be they positive or negative, for the man.”
“If you would allow it, I am more then happy to take them in however the Uchiha district would not be an appropriate place to raise a Senju or house Anko.” Naori’s insight was sharp as ever and Hiruzen felt certain he had made the right choice with her. She wasn’t loyal to her clan but to Konoha. Her mistreatment after her discovery at the hands of her kinsmen ensured a divide that would never heal. Her recent exploits in taking down several rogue Uchiha proved she was an effective counter against others wielding the sharingan and mangekyo both. That she was too young to have been involved in the Kyubi disaster only added to her value.
“No it’s not, which is why you and your apprentices will be moved into the most secure district in the village. Of course, Sakura-chan is free to move in with you as well. I’m sure that would solve the problems around scheduling?” Hiruzen’s play was obvious to anyone with eyes. By moving the Uchiha outcasts from the clan compound he was ensuring they would be forever separated from the clan. They would never come to view themselves as Uchiha, at least not as a part of their core identity and he would be able to observe their behavior apart from their peers and see if they were worth keeping. Furthermore, adding Anko and Sakura to the mix, he ensured the bonds between Team 7 remained strong and gave all of them more reason to remain loyal to the village.
“I’m assuming by most secure, you mean the Senju district?” Naori’s question showed how quick on her feet the woman was. Most would assume the Sarutobi clan compound had the best security or perhaps the Hyuga since they had reinforced their measures after the failed kidnapping of their heiress. The Senju clan were a thing of the past in Konohagakure, so few remembered the power of their clan compound’s fuinjutsu defenses created by Uzumaki Mito and Senju Tobirama.
“Indeed, I will have you set up in the clan heir’s complex. There is more then enough room for you and your four students. You will be moving in tonight.” Hiruzen’s word was law and to her credit Naori didn’t even flinch when she was told she was leaving her home behind at his behest. Instead she bowed low, her long wavy purple hair rippling around her as she did so.
“Understood Hokage-sama, I assume you will send someone by to let us through the wards safely?” Naori’s question was a reminder that unlike most jounin she hadn’t shirked on her studies. Of course as a child of foreign shores she had to know more then any native of Konoha to prove herself to her peers but right now that was turning out to be exceptionally useful.
“Someone will be around in two hours to let you in. Have lunch and then await word.” Hiruzen stated and effectively ended the conversation. Naori waited a moment in case he had anything left to add and then left, gathering her newly minted chunin and preparing herself to share the news. Anko would be delighted, Izumi would be conflicted and Naori knew that something very, very bad was being planned for the Uchiha though she’d keep that to herself.
***
Sakura and Itachi walked shoulder to shoulder, both holding their new vests tucked under their arms as they entered the small meeting room the Hokage had directed them towards. Emerald eyes swept the room and Sakura sensed for chakra but found nothing out of the ordinary. At her side, Itachi shifted, his eyes falling on her and worry just barely visible within them.
“What do you think is going on?” Sakura asked and Itachi averted his gaze as if he suddenly felt guilty. It was a sharp change to his previous behavior and Sakura reached out and took his hand. The action surprised the boy and she gave it a gentle squeeze. “I won’t be mad at you Itachi, but if you know something…”
“Her being here has nothing to do with you Uchiha Itachi, you do not need to blame yourself.” A velvety smooth voice caught both children by surprise and they turned to face an ANBU wearing a bear mask. The man’s silver hair looked almost gray in the dim light of the meeting room and he was wearing a bog standard ANBU uniform. Gray cloth armor, reinforced by chainmail over a skin tight body suit made of a stretchy, breathable, fire and electric resistant fabric.
Both children breathed in sharply as the ANBU took them in. The man moved his head so it was obvious that he was looking them over and Sakura silently wondered if the mask hindered his peripheral vision or if perhaps there was some trick or jutsu that allowed him a full field of view. The material looked like porcelain but the famously elite ANBU would never wear something so dangerously fragile into battle.
“Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Itachi, we command the elements, wield blades of steel and weave illusions at our whim.” The ANBU’s words were a pass code, one meant for identifying friend from foe and both chunin knew the answer.
“In our hearts burns a will of fire.” Both children spoke in unison and the ANBU nodded.
“I am the smoke that hides the blaze.” Those words caused Sakura’s heart to tick up. This wasn’t just an ANBU but an officer, at least captain rank.
She didn’t know the internal organization of ANBU, how it divided up ranks and hierarchy, nobody outside the black ops did but that phrase meant she was in the presence of someone who outranked her heavily. During peace time operations, an ANBU agent was equivalent to tokubetsu jounin but when combat broke out, they had a field rank of Jounin when it came to giving commands and ANBU officers were even higher then that. Not because they were deadlier or stronger but because ANBU was an entirely military organization with no civilian aspects. They were soldiers plain and simple and specialized in fighting against those who wielded chakra, whether they be samurai, shinobi, monks and even sages.
“You two have been selected for ANBU. Haruno you will be trained as an on call medic, but due to the nature of our organization that means you must become a fully fledged member. Uchiha, you have been selected for an apprenticeship under one of my better commanders at request of your parents, a request I could not refuse.” The ANBU’s words sent a shiver down their spines. The voice was smooth but cold, disapproval audible within it as he spoke of how Itachi had fallen into his organization. The man tilted his head slightly and Sakura felt his gaze bore into her as he shifted his attention directly onto her shoulders.
“You will not be seeing combat missions until you are older. I do not run a daycare, you will be expected to behave professionally. If you cannot manage that, you will be conditioned and nobody likes conditioning so don’t make it necessary.” The ANBU warned and Sakura felt her blood run cold as the man’s chakra smoothed out. It was similar to a Shimura doll soldier but different, a switch that could be flicked rather then a constant state of being but it was still incredibly unsettling.
“Now then, I trust you know how to use these? We are returning to headquarters. You will be given a full medical exam and then your basic training will begin. During basic you will not have contact with the outside world and your training will continue until you are up to our standards, seeing as neither of you have the option of dropping out.” The bear masked ANBU stated firmly and handed both children a scroll. Sakura unfurled it to find a summoning seal activated by chakra and she looked up at the man, nerves bubbling in her gut. It was obvious he was trying to intimidate them, to impress upon them just how serous the situation was. Even knowing that, Sakura found it was working rather well and her fingers were trembling slightly as she gripped the edges of the scroll.
“Activate them.” The ANBU ordered and Sakura only hesitated briefly before doing so. The man had identified himself, Hiruzen had ordered her to be here and even paranoia had a limit. With a sharp yank and a blast of smoke later Sakura found herself standing in an office carved from solid stone. Seals provided light and the ANBU she’d been talking to was now sitting in a chair behind a large desk. Itachi arrived at her side and was visibly nervous.
“Commander you called?” A familiar voice drawled from behind the two kids and they turned to find Hatake Kakashi entering the room. His ANBU mask, a red and white wolf dog, was currently hanging from his belt and he was wearing an ANBU captain’s uniform.
“Hound, I have the newest member of your squad.” The ANBU commander answered and Sakura realized the man they had been talking to didn’t just outrank her but likely commanded all of ANBU. His disapproval over Itachi’s inclusion in the ranks suddenly made a lot of sense, though Sakura couldn’t fathom why she herself was simply accepted. “See him through the intake procedures, he’s your responsibility from here on out.”
“Of course, come on then Itachi-san, let’s get you all kitted up and tattooed.” Kakashi gave the boy an unreadable look and nodded for the door. Itachi glanced at Sakura, worry obvious in his eyes.
“I’ll be fine,” Sakura whispered and gave him a small nod. She was far more afraid of her parents then she was of the ANBU commander. Despite their odd chakra and flat emotions, she felt more safe in the man’s presence then she did within the walls of the Haruno compound where she’d been raised. Itachi returned the nod then focused his attention on Hatake. The young Uchiha followed the legendary ANBU out of the office, leaving Sakura alone with the ANBU commander.
“Well I will admit, I did not expect this.” The ANBU commander’s words were laced with nostalgia and Sakura watched as the man reached up towards his mask. Before her eyes, the commander’s hair turned platinum, still short and spiky but gained an almost velvety look to it. Gripping the mask, the commander gently removed it, revealing a beautiful face that looked untouched by age. Indigo eyes peered at Sakura, the corners crinkling slightly as the commander smiled. “When I saw your match, felt your chakra, I thought it was you but even if I was wrong, I couldn’t let Danzo get his hands on one of her descendants. Seeing you this close now though it’s like looking at a ghost.”
Sakura took in a sharp breath because there was recognition in the woman’s eyes. Her mind had utterly skipped over the realization the ANBU commander was a woman and jumped straight to her worst fear. Someone knew she was from the past, that she was an Uchiha and in modern Konohagakure that was incredibly dangerous. The ANBU commander settled their mask down on the table, reminiscing as they looked at it before refocusing on Sakura.
“Calm yourself, I will not be telling your secret to anyone. Now then on to orientation. You will be working as an in house medic until your skills are up to our standards and then you will take on the role of field medic. While working under a mask, your hair color will be changed as will your eyes. I will have your mask sealed to hide any potential doujutsu you may not have developed yet.” The commander’s words drove home the horror that Sakura was feeling. This person knew her, in the past and she was still wondering when the shoe would drop. Was she going to be carted off to T&I? Experimented on to figure out how she was traveling through time? Thrown in jail for being an enemy of the first two Hokage?
“Relax Sakura-san, nobody is going to find out your secret.” The commander’s voice was stern but oddly comforting and Sakura gave the woman an awkward nod. “Now then, you will need to get sealed, all members of ANBU have a seal on their left or right shoulders. That seal provides you with several useful abilities. A preset henge that cannot be seen through by doujutsu and doesn’t deplete your own chakra. It can remove your scent when you will it. You can use it to enter many of the clan wards and restricted areas around the village. It allows you to identify yourself to other ANBU and it lets you communicate with headquarters.”
“That’s a lot of stuff for one seal.” Sakura said quietly and the ANBU commander nodded in agreement. From what little she’d learned over the month since Hiruzen started teaching her, the more functions a seal had, the more complex it was and applying a seal to a person made it even more complex.
“ANBU is Konohagakure’s black ops and we specialize in deniability. The fact that all of our members have an identifying tattoo should be proof enough that the emblem is more then it appears. If you are captured, you can hide it with a pulse of chakra or use it to send out an alert so rescue teams will know your location. In short, it’s very useful. Now then, our usual intake process would have you receive eight months of basic before another six on your area of interest.” The commander explained before placing Sakura’s file down on her desk. The woman motioned for Sakura to check and the rosette leaned forward and found herself looking at what Konoha had kept on her.
“You know I have two summoning contracts,” Sakura knew Orochimaru had kidnapped her for that purpose but the fact that she had two summons and one of them was tigers wasn’t something she expected ANBU to know. She had shown her teammates her tigers but she hadn’t even mentioned the foxes so how ANBU knew was anyone’s guess.
“Indeed, you’re too young to send into the field so instead you’ll spend your time training. Uchiha Naori could have taught you kenjutsu but that is the limit of what she can offer. Here, I can ensure that your potential is maximized without the need to send you on missions you’re not prepared for. Of course you will be out in the field occasionally. ANBU units often handle border patrols alongside the chunin corps and such missions are perfect for a rookie medic. You’ll see combat but won’t take part yourself, unless something goes quite wrong. You are familiar with Uchiha Shisui?” The commander asked and Sakura gave the woman a nod. The commander pulsed her chakra and she slipped her mask on without Sakura even noticing, her disguise reapplying itself in the blink of an eye.
“Commander?” Shisui’s face dropped the moment he laid eyes on Sakura. He was wearing the same uniform Hatake had been and his lips were rapidly paling as his eyes came alive with a protective fury. His chakra began to blaze, rage bubbling within it and his eyes started to bleed crimson around the edges. “Why is a child here?”
“This Kunoichi has been taken into ANBU because the only other option to make the most of her potential was Root, is that understood Shinobi?” The commander’s male voice drawled, velvet hiding the threat of steel. Shisui tensed at the mention of Root and Sakura looked between the two, aware that she was missing something.
“She’s not even six.” Shisui countered and the commander’s presence slowly began to increase, crushing down on their shoulders and grinding their courage to dust. Sakura could feel her bones creaking from the sheer force of chakra in the air and her heart was beginning to race dangerously fast when the commander finally spoke.
“Shimura Danzo made a request for her before the entire council. This was and is her only alternative, unless you’d rather?” The commander trailed off and Shisui’s face went pale. He gave a sharp nod and the commander tapped the file sitting on her desk. Shisui picked it up, shoulders still shaking though his face was impressively blank. He read over Sakura’s file, unsurprised by what he saw since he had a hand in training her. “You’re getting a promotion to jounin by the way Crow-san. Congratulations.”
“Thank you sir, does she have a mask?” Shisui asked, placing the file back down on the desk. The commander shook her head and Shisui let out a tired sigh and ran a hand through his wild curls. The teen glanced at Sakura who returned the look with wide emerald eyes. “And here I thought I’d be watching out for Itachi.”
“Teach her your shunshin techniques and genjutsu. She will be able to handle them.” The ANBU commander’s words clearly caught Shisui off guard. He looked at the girl, a slight frown on his face but he wasn’t about to risk a second argument with the ANBU commander and nodded. “I am going to need to find her a fuinjutsu instructor, as well as a medical instructor. If only young Tsuna-chan was still here.”
“Sir?” Shisui’s tone was clearly a request to leave and the ANBU commander let out a soft chuckle and waved Shisui off. Sakura felt her friend’s hand on her shoulder and Shisui nodded towards the door. “Come on, let’s get you settled okay Sakura-chan? You’ll be living here a while but don’t worry I’ve been assigned as your captain so you’ll at least know someone. Normally new recruits are intentionally separated from anyone they know but I guess the commander decided to be nice because you’re so young.”
“Oh,” Sakura didn’t really know what else to say to that and quickly found herself walking through the bare stone and concrete corridors of ANBU. She couldn’t tell how deep underground they were but considering she couldn’t even feel chakra beyond her line of sight, they had to be deep down in the bedrock of the village. The chakra in the air was strange, not twisted but certainly dour in nature. There was a heaviness here, an understanding of pain and loss, war and hatred that ran deep enough to mark the very chakra that clung to the complex. It wasn’t quite malevolent, not like the Forest of Death but it was still deeply unsettling.
“Our first stop,” Shisui announced and lead Sakura into a medical exam room. “I bet you’ll end up spending a lot of time here. We’ve got a few medics in ANBU, but which one you end up learning from is anyone’s guess.” Shisui informed her as a man wearing a bird mask came over and gave Sakura the most thorough check up of her life.
“Are you aware you have a seal on your left hand?” The man asked as he moved a glowing blue hand over Sakura’s body. The girl gave a sharp nod, because she knew that already. “That means your ANBU seal will be on the right shoulder, avoid resonance.” The medic answered and carried on as if they saw nothing wrong with it. His hand moved over Sakura’s entire body, his chakra moving in a way that indicated disapproval and discomfort.
“Is something wrong?” Sakura asked and the man met her eyes through his mask. She couldn’t see what he looked like underneath the armor, but she could feel him gazing at her with sympathy thanks to the swirling motion of his chakra. Sakura shifted slightly and the medic gently patted her head.
“You’re too young for the kind of training that gave you your strength. Such intense chakra exposure and remodeling is going to have unknown consequences in a body so young. It might stunt your growth, do nothing, or even supercharge your growth. A shinobi’s body changes over time, more chakra exposure continually altering and increasing their physical abilities but the sheer level of chakra exposure in your muscles is unprecedented in a child so young.” The medic’s tone was quite grim as he spoke and Sakura could feel Shisui’s muscles tensing at her side. He hadn’t known what she had put herself through, she hadn’t seen him at all since their meeting over how her and Itachi would handle their match in the chunin exams and now that he was finding out what she’d done, she could tell he was furious.
“The closest case we have on file are Hatake Kakashi and Orochimaru. Neither can quite be called human anymore.” The medic finished and Sakura could feel Shisui’s gaze drilling into her shoulder. She knew he was concerned for her, perhaps even terrified but it was manifesting as anger and she really didn’t want him yelling at her. He didn’t understand that she wasn’t a child of peace, that she had to be as strong as possible for their shared clan and yet she couldn’t tell him, couldn’t explain her desperation for power.
“Oh,” Sakura noted intelligently and felt a hand come down on her pink hair. Gently but with irresistible force, Shisui turned her head to face him. There was pain in his gaze alongside worry and the look was so wrong on him that it tore at Sakura’s heart.
“Please take better care of yourself.” Shisui sounded like he was begging and Sakura couldn’t find it in herself to say no or lie so instead she just hugged him. Shisui didn’t know what drove her and couldn’t know but she hated hurting him. He was sunshine and warmth incarnate, a splash of light amid her gray modern world and her heart ached at the anxiety she was causing him.
“I will do my best.” Sakura promised because she would do her best. She couldn’t promise she wouldn’t put herself in danger or that she would stay safe but she would do everything she could to come back home alive and in one piece. She had loved ones waiting for her, in both times after all and she wasn’t going to let them suffer because she had been careless.
“I suppose that’s the best I’m going to get.” Shisui sounded resigned but he didn’t push her for more. By the time Sakura let go, the medic had declared her healthy, if likely looking at a very unusual puberty and then sent them on their way.
The next stop was ANBU’s in house armorer and Sakura’s entire body was measured so that the form fitting armor wouldn’t hinder her movement or growth. Once that was done, Sakura and Shisui finally headed to get her arm tattooed. The process was painful but after training under Hiruzen, Sakura was easily able to ignore the discomfort and sat perfectly still, without even flinching as a rather large seal was carved into her skin and then compressed into the spiraling flame.
“You know most people scream or at least groan as that’s applied.” Shisui said as he pushed open to the door to the room Sakura would be calling her own while undergoing basic. It was a small room with a bed, a desk and several shelves for books and weapons. A rack for larger swords and pole arms, like Sakura’s scythe was off to the side and the floor was bare concrete.
“It didn’t really hurt though.” Sakura answered and Shisui’s eye twitched angrily. She knew she’d said the wrong thing, but it was already too late to retract her words and Shisui would know she was lying anyways. She hadn’t even twitched the entire time after all and considering what the medic had said about her body, well she was fairly certain Shisui had a good idea of what she went through.
“Yeah, well I’m glad you think so.” Shisui said slowly and Sakura looked down at the floor, cheeks burning and feeling oddly guilty. Shisui let out another tired sigh and then placed his hand on her head. “It’s fine Sakura-chan, I’m upset because I care about you. You’re not even six, you should be playing in the park and chasing after butterflies. Kid stuff, you know?”
“I have a duty though…” Sakura murmured and Shisui knelt down so he was at her eye level. He looked obviously worried and Sakura felt a lump forming in his throat. She couldn’t tell him anything, not even to make him feel better. Her chakra ached, burned really and she’d been holding it back for so damn long she couldn’t manage it anymore. Fires sang along her nerves and her eyes blazed to life, swirling crimson as tears ran down her cheeks.
“Fuck,” Shisui swore silently, his face going utterly pale as he double checked to make sure the door was closed and they were alone. Sakura grabbed him and held tightly as her chakra raged. Madara and Tajima were dead in this time period, their clan had survived but had forgotten themselves and everyone she cared about was worried. Konohagakure wasn’t the village Madara wanted to build and the world was even more dark and twisted then it had been during their time. It was too much, Sakura didn’t know what to do or how she could help. She was the last one left, the only person who remembered the dream that should have been and it burned.
“It’s alright, Sakura it’s alright I’m here. Everything is going to be alright, I won’t tell anyone.” Shisui’s voice was panicked and his words barely a whisper. His chakra brushed hers and she remembered her lessons, the basics of Ninshu she drilled daily with Tajima reasserting themselves and she forced herself to start taking slow deep breaths. She was Madara’s second, equally responsible for overseeing the welfare of the clan and ensuring nobody fell to their own flames. She could not afford to allow herself to burn, it was her job to control herself first and foremost, otherwise she wouldn’t be able to do her duty.
Slowly, Sakura pulled herself back down and cooled her chakra. Focusing on the breathing techniques of the eagles, she cleared her mind and let go of her worries. She didn’t forget them, nor did she bury them. Tajima had taught her better then that. She had to accept that things in life would be difficult but couldn’t dwell on the challenges ahead. She would plan, train and think on ways to overcome but never obsess, nor give in to the impulse to fixate.
“I’m alright, thank you Shisui.” Sakura said softly, looking at her friend with crimson eyes. The world was painfully clear and her sharingan barely even sipped at her chakra, proof that they were natural. Shisui looked utterly lost as he gently cupped her face, silently praying that this was a genjutsu. “They’re real Shisui.”
“You knew, you know what happened.” Shisui whispered and Sakura didn’t deny him, couldn’t really. Not after this, not after what he had just helped her through. Sakura took a deep breath and drew herself up, doing her best to look the part of the proud Uchiha she was. Her left hand burned with Madara’s chakra, her seal visible though neither noticed its presence right now.
“I did and I need you to keep it a secret. Nobody can know.” Sakura saw the moment Shisui agreed with her. His face grew grim and he gave a slow nod, eyes becoming contemplative.
“When you get your mask, I’ll teach you my shunshin and genjutsu but you must never let anyone know you have those eyes. Danzo is already interested in you and people he is interested in tend to disappear. Fugaku thinks he’s harvesting sharingan from captured Uchiha but there isn’t any proof. Still keep those eyes secret.” Shisui’s face was deadly serious and Sakura gave him a firm nod. She had no desire to let anyone in the modern age know her relation to the Uchiha clan. In truth she didn’t even want Shisui to know but the choice had been taken from her and she found if someone had to know, perhaps it was best that it was Shisui.