Within the Land of Valleys
The rain continued to pour down in sheets as Sakura observed from the dry safety of the small cave. Early summer gripped the Land of Valleys in a way she had never seen before. Thunderstorms were certainly common in Konohagakure but never with the same frequency and sheer intensity as the ones she experienced during her travels abroad. The roar of thunder and ceaseless march of rain uneased her at times, but it was her traveling companion that kept her grounded. Sasuke's cold demeanor thawed with the weather and as the two continued forward together, she sensed a great shift within him. One that allowed him to once again love and be loved. For that, she was immeasurably grateful.
As she peered over the ravine's edge, a sudden touch on her shoulder startled her frayed nerves. She looked up to see Sasuke clutching two bamboo water vessels, extending one toward her. She took it and watched as he settled next to her and gazed out at the storm.
"We still can't get moving again. Not while the weather's like this."
"We needed a little rest anyway." She said as she took a sip from the vessel.
Rest was something that hadn't been afforded to them since they first started their journey over two months prior. It seemed that every town had a problem that needed to be solved, a conflict that needed to be sorted out. Peace may have settled over the Great Nations, but the same could not be said for their smaller, weaker neighbors. Places like the Land of Valleys struggled against both manmade and natural adversities with few resources to deal with them. The more Sakura saw of these disadvantaged nations, the stronger her desire to help as best as she could. This call to service far outweighed her desire for relaxation, so rest had to be found in the little moments or not at all.
She laid her heavy head on Sasuke’s shoulder as the couple continued to take in the scene outside the cave. He pulled her in closer, holding her tightly with his arm which caused her to blush. Their relationship was solidified the night they left the Land of Fire, high up in the boughs of a tree overlooking a valley not unlike the one they faced now. But Sakura was still not quite used to her partner’s acts of affection no matter how small they may be. She was surprised to find that Sasuke was far more of a romantic than she initially thought. He brought her flowers from local shops when he went into town by himself. He kissed her whenever he felt the time was right, which she found to be often. He even used his large, Susano’o arm to shield her from the elements on particularly rainy days. She loved every little gesture he made and the unsung words he weaved within them.
“Have you gotten anything from your hawk recently?” She asked, her mind wandering.
“No, not since Naruto sent that letter a few days ago.”
Sakura thought back to the much-anticipated mail that arrived shortly after their entry into the Land of Valleys. It was a long letter, three pages worth, filled with Naruto’s ramblings about the state of the village. He and Hinata had bought a house together, meaning that he could finally move out of the tiny apartment he called home for over three years. Sakura begged him to save up sooner, but he insisted that a shinobi’s salary was simply too frugal to take such a leap. She thought to bring up the fact that she knew he spent far too much money on ramen and nights out with his friends to complain about his salary. She figured it was a lesson he would have to learn on his own. Naruto also relayed the news of Ino and Sai’s engagement, which nearly caused her to leap to her feet and run back to the village on the spot. The idea of missing her best friend’s wedding was simply unforgivable, even if she was weeks away. But, an added note tucked neatly into the hawk’s package kept her on her path forward. It was a small pencil sketch of Sakura and Ino enjoying a conversation together at a restaurant they frequented. Sai’s signature graced the bottom of the page along with a few words written in different, familiar handwriting.
We’ll celebrate when you get back. Miss you!
Things were changing, as Sakura knew they would. It was the rate at which they were changing that alarmed her.
Sasuke rose to his feet, brushing dirt from his clothes as he did.
"I should go into town. We're going to be here a lot longer than I thought."
He looked down at her, concern flashing across his face.
"You'll be okay by yourself?"
"Of course I will."
She reached up to grab his hand and squeezed it once before letting him depart the cave. He ascended the narrow pathway toward the nearest town before Sakura could no longer see him. The next half hour passed without issue and she used her precious free time to catch up on some neglected chores. As she began patching up a small tear in her raincoat, she heard a sudden commotion erupting from the bottom of the ravine. She thought it was a bird at first, its shrill call rising above the sound of the rushing waters of the river. But as she listened closer, she realized that it was no bird. It was the sound of a person.
She sprang to her feet, threw on her raincoat, and rushed toward the cliff edge to try and get a glimpse of the noise's source. Through the pouring rain, she spotted a figure at the bank of the surging river below. A boy, no older than ten, grabbing his arm in pain as he lay rolling in the mud. Hesitation gripped her momentarily as she considered the situation. How a boy that young ended up alone at the bottom of such a dangerous chasm in the middle of a storm was beyond her. It didn't feel right, and yet she didn't care. Someone needed help and that was all that mattered.
She bounded down the cliff's face with ease, carefully allotting chakra to her feet to avoid slipping on the slick rocks below her. The roar of the river drowned her senses as she reached the boy and got a decent look at him. His writhing ceased and he now laid still as he stared up at her with a look of uncertainty. As the two strangers took in each other's intentions, Sakura sensed another feeling deep behind the boy's hollow-set eyes. Sadness, or could it be guilt? The idea pushed her forward as unease set in.
She knelt down beside him and offered him a comforting smile.
"It looks like you've got yourself into a bit of trouble. What's your name?"
The boy's grip on his arm loosened but the stark tension in his face remained.
"Shiro. It's Shiro."
Sakura nodded. "Well, Shiro. I'm here to help, so don't you worry. I'll just need to see your arm for a moment then I'll get you out of here, okay?"
Shiro nodded and let go of his injured arm. Sakura took it gently with her left hand and began to knead chakra with her right, producing a familiar green glow. Her chakra intermingled with the boy's, carefully examining the internal structure of his arm in fine point detail. By the time she noticed that his arm was fully intact, she knew it was too late. She opened her mouth to question Shiro but was stopped by the sudden sensation of a sharp blade at the small of her back. Her determination to help the boy paired with the river's sounds dulled her enough to not notice the unexpected intruder.
"You're a doctor?" A voice asked from behind her. It was low and gravely from the roughness of age.
"Yes, I am."
She slowly raised both hands as her eyes scanned her surroundings. Her adversaries were most likely poorly skilled which gave her an automatic advantage. But, she knew that even the worst fighters could conjure up a strategy good enough to overpower her. She weighed her options carefully and decided that going along with the captors and waiting for the correct time to strike would be the best course of action.
Shiro rose to his feet and took a few steps away from Sakura. The uncertainty in his eyes continued as he glanced at the man behind her.
“She’s nice, grandfather. We can just ask her to help.” He said with concern.
Grandfather?
She refocused her attention on the blade pressed against her back and noticed that it was shaking in trembling hands. These were no ordinary bandits or rogue shinobi. It seemed to her that they had no real intention of harming her, which caused her mind to relax. The issue could possibly be settled with words and reason which is all she could ever ask for.
The older man sighed from behind her. “Fine. But, if you try anything I’ll have to use force.”
She felt the blade retreat and heaved a sigh of relief. She turned around to face the stranger and get a good look at him for the first time. He was tall, with shortened gray hair and broad shoulders. His eyes were dark with worry and for a moment, Sakura thought that he even resembled Sasuke. She shook the thought away and rose to her feet.
“I won’t, I just want to help you. You said you needed a doctor?”
He nodded. “It’s my other grandson, Ren. We need to get him to a doctor, he…” He paused to compose himself, clearly shaken by the ordeal. “He’s got an infection. We think it’s from a cut.”
She watched as he bowed his head and continued.
“Please forgive me. I know you can’t trust us. And even now, I feel like I can’t trust you either. But, these two are all I have now. I’ll give you everything I have if I need to.”
A pang of hurt bubbled up from deep within her. Every instinct told her that she couldn’t trust a man who had just threatened her at the other end of a blade. But, she saw sincerity in his actions and decided to take the risk.
“What’s your name?” She asked.
“Katashi.”
She put a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Raise your head and take me to your grandson, Katashi. I’ll do everything I can.”
He did as she asked and straightened up to his full height, displaying the clear difference in size between him and Sakura. She wished that Sasuke would return faster so at least she could even her chances of escape if something were to go awry. But, as she looked up and back toward their small cave she saw no one. She would have to take on the endeavor alone, for now.
Katashi called his grandson to his side and began to make his way toward the pathway up the cliff. His pace seemed to quicken with each step and urgency poured out of every small movement he made. Sakura matched his speed with ease, walking alongside him as the trio traversed the dangerous path. The rain had finally dulled to a light sprinkle, but the threat of rockslides and unsound ground remained.
After a half hour of travel, Sakura spotted a small house nestled in a patch of sparse woods. Its dreary exterior, accented by the equally gray sky, made it seem utterly abandoned. But the certainty of Katashi's approach seemed to prove otherwise. He strode up to the door and opened it quietly. The gentle motion stood in stark contrast to his otherwise rigid demeanor and Sakura knew at once that she was truly safe.
She entered the room behind them and was met with a modest living space. Opened windows bathed the walls in fading afternoon light and the smell of petrichor permeated the space with earthen comfort. On the floor near a fireplace, a figure laid unmoving on a tatami mat. As Sakura moved closer, she saw that it was a boy a few years younger than Shiro. His dark hair and pale face peaked over the blanket draped thoughtfully on top of his frail body. The sight of the boy chilled the warm nature of the home and Sakura couldn’t help but wonder what would have transpired within it if she hadn’t been at the ravine.
She quickly removed her white raincoat and draped it over a nearby chair before opening her pack. She retrieved her pair of black gloves and her roll of disinfected tools, then turned to the sink and began to wash her hands.
“How long has he been like this?” She asked over the sound of the flowing water.
“His fever started two days ago. Like I said, I think he accidentally cut his leg a while ago while chopping wood.”
Sakura turned and made her way to Ren’s side and removed the blanket from him. She carefully rolled up both of his pant legs to reveal a large, inflamed gash on his right calf. As suspected, the infection had to be caused by the wound. Antibiotics and a medicinal pulp for the fever would be ideal, but with scarce resources, she knew she would have to resort to more direct methods.
“I need a container of some sort, preferably metal. I’m going to have to draw out as much of the infection from his blood as I can and hope his body will do the rest.”
Katashi nodded and motioned for Shiro to fulfill the request. The boy hurried over to the kitchen and began rummaging through the cupboard, clanging pots and pans together frantically. He eventually emerged with a large metal pot, its lid still resting on top of it.
“Will this work?” He asked sheepishly.
Sakura smiled as she took the vessel from him. “This’ll do perfectly, thank you.”
She took a deep breath and focused the chakra in her fingers to razor-thin precision. Extracting one substance from another was a basic lesson of medical ninjutsu. But given the length of time since the onset of symptoms and the age of the young boy, she knew that this case would be a difficult one. She began to work quickly, becoming engrossed in the process as she attempted to focus all of her attention on the task at hand. The world around her blended into a formless mass of shapes and colors, the only clear image being of her patient who lay motionless as she worked.
The sudden feeling of a familiar presence snapped her out of her hypnotic concentration. A person stood crouched underneath the nearby windowsill, exuding a strong aura of anxiety. The chakra pattern was unmistakable. It was Sasuke.
Sakura turned toward Katashi to warn him about what was bound to come next, but her words came a second too late. The front door suddenly crashed open as a shadowy figure burst into the room. Sasuke settled near Katashi, his longsword drawn close to the older man’s neck. His dark eyes scanned the room quickly, eventually settling on Sakura as she looked up at him in a panic. He quickly sheathed his blade and let out a long-held breath.
“I’m sorry. You just disappeared and I didn’t know the situation.” Sasuke said.
Sakura sighed and turned back toward Ren, trying to pick up where she left off before the interruption.
“I’m alright. I think everyone would have appreciated it if you were a little more subtle with your entry, though.” She jested.
She heard Katashi huff in protest.
“You know this man?” He said accusingly. “Is he to be trusted?”
Sakura nodded, her eyes still fixed on the wound. “He’s my partner, Sasuke. Sasuke, this is Katashi and his grandsons, Ren and Shiro. They needed my help, as you can see.”
There was a long pause before Katashi spoke up again.
“Well, alright. But, I’d appreciate it if you try and fix that door while you’re here.” She heard him walk back toward the kitchen before continuing. “You could’ve just knocked.”
“Right, sorry.” Sasuke said awkwardly.
When Sakura finished her work, the sun had begun its descent below the horizon. She hadn’t the faintest idea how many hours had passed since she started, but she felt confident that Ren would make a full recovery following the impromptu procedure. She removed her gloves, wiped the sweat from her brow, and glanced up at the room around her. Katashi and Shiro sat patiently on the couch nearby, their eyes fixed on her. Sasuke stood by the crooked, broken door as he stared at his unfinished work. She smiled and rose from the floor, her body aching from disuse.
"I removed as much of the infection as I could. He should be feeling better soon.”
Katashi stood up and moved over to Ren’s side. He gently patted the boy’s face with a handkerchief and moved his damp hair from his eyes.
“I can’t thank you enough for all this. You saved his life.”
He stood again and offered his hand to shake. Sakura took it, his large hand enveloping her own.
“What do I owe you?” Katashi asked.
“Nothing at all.”
Katashi released her hand and nodded. “I can barely accept that, but if that’s what you want then I will. Will you at least let us host you for the night? We have a spare bedroom down the hall and I can prepare a meal for supper.” He looked down at Ren before continuing. “I’m sure he’ll want to thank you as well when he comes to.”
“Of course. We’d love to.”
She glanced over at Sasuke who stood looming over the conversation.
"Are you okay with that?" Sakura asked.
He nodded and with that, all of the members of the house scattered to their own whims. Katashi started up the stove in the kitchen and began to prepare the meal with Shiro close in tow. Sasuke and Sakura sat together on the couch, watching over the still-sleeping Ren while his family remained busy.
“I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you anything before I left,” Sakura said as she placed her gloves back into her pack. “Everything moved so fast, I didn’t want to wait too long.”
Sasuke took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze. “You did what you had to do. It didn’t take me long to find you, anyway.”
Dinner came quickly and left just as fast, with the conversation being limited to talk and mundane pleasantries. Despite spending nearly an entire day with Katashi, Sakura felt that she still knew nothing about him. Something lurked deep within him, a familiar pain that she had become accustomed to over the past few years. She stubbornly wished to know more about him, even if she knew that his hardened demeanor would not let her.
As the evening spread its last light from the sky, Sakura saw Katashi step out the backdoor and close the door behind him. It would be her only opportunity. She glanced over at Sasuke, who was still seated at the kitchen table writing a letter to the village. She moved quietly to the back door and opened it to reveal Katashi leaning over the back porch gate. She let the door close behind her and made her way to his side, taking in the evening breeze as she went. The earlier storm hung in the air like a distant memory as the last of its clouds swept across the darkening sky.
“It’s beautiful here, isn’t it?” Katashi remarked.
“It is. I wish I could’ve gotten to see more of it, but I think Sasuke and I will be leaving tomorrow.”
Katashi sighed as if disappointed by the news. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a gold lighter. He flicked it on in one swift motion, pulled a loose cigarette out of his thin coat’s pocket, and lit its end. He took a long drag, before glancing over at Sakura.
“I’m sorry, I know these things aren’t really in style anymore. I should’ve asked before I lit it. I guess I’m just not used to much company out here.”
She shook her head. “No, it’s alright. I have a friend who smokes so I’m used to it.”
His eyes lingered for a moment before resting his gaze on the vast forest ahead of him.
“I had every intention to rob you back there. That was my initial plan, at least. Money is short and the nearest doctor costs a fortune.” He paused, his face dropping into shadow. “It was my last resort if that means anything to you. People do stupid things when they’re desperate.”
“I understand. You would’ve done anything for Ren. If I were in your position, I can’t say that I would’ve done any different.”
A long moment of silence passed between them as the truth settled in Sakura’s mind. Although Katashi may have thought she was trying to placate his guilt, she knew she meant every word.
“I may be overstepping here. But, you remind me a lot of a person I knew once.” His mouth upturned in a small, half-cocked smile. “She was always trying to be a hero. Trying to help every person she could even when she got nothing in return. She had a big heart.”
Sakura smiled at his gentle recollection. “What was her name?”
He hesitated a moment as he gathered the will to respond.
“Sachie. She was my daughter, Ren and Shiro’s mother. She…” He cleared his throat and took another drag. “She died fighting in the Fourth Great War.”
Sakura’s smile faded. The ghost of the war still haunted every part of the land and every person within it. Although it had already been a few years, she was harshly reminded that many would never recover from it. Cities and towns could be rebuilt but nothing could bring back something as irreplaceable as a loved one.
Sakura placed a hand on Katashi’s shoulder. “I fought in the war too, we both did. You must be very proud of her, for protecting her boys like that.”
Katashi flicked the last of his cigarette onto the floor and crushed it with his heel.
“I am. I try to remind them every day about how brave their mother was. They’ll never fully understand what she went through, but she would want it that way. Kids shouldn’t even know the word war.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
His last words, spoken with long-earned wisdom, resonated deep within Sakura. She’d been a shinobi since she was twelve years old, forced into impossible situations before she could even fully comprehend the dangers of the world. While she treasured her time in Team 7, she sometimes wished that her and all of her teammates were graced with normal lives. She knew that all of them would disagree and argue that the hardships of their teenage years shaped them into who they are today. In a way, she would have to agree with that sentiment. But, the idea that the world’s current peace was fashioned from her and her friend’s own loss of innocence troubled her. Perhaps, there still could be a future where young shinobi would never know the horrors of war. Where childhood friends could grow old together without worry and parents lived long enough to meet their own grandchildren.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Katashi as he smiled and gestured back toward the kitchen window. Sakura followed his gaze and caught a glimpse of Sasuke at the kitchen table, now joined by Shiro. He listened and nodded patiently as the boy shared what looked to be a stack of comic books with him. Shiro caught his grandfather’s watchful eyes and waved, causing Sasuke to glance up and shoot an acknowledging look at Sakura.
Katashi waved back, letting out a small laugh. “Looks like they’re getting along well.”
Sakura smiled. “Sasuke might not get along well with everyone, but he’s always had a soft spot for kids.”
“That’s a good thing. It seems he’ll make a good father one day.”
Sakura felt her face go hot with embarrassment. “What? Kids? We haven’t even thought about that yet. I mean, I’m not saying we don’t want any we’re just-”
Her ramblings were interrupted by Katashi’s deep laughter.
“I’m just giving you a hard time. You’re young, you’ve got plenty of time to figure it out.” There was a brief pause, as he put on a more straightforward demeanor. “But if you do end up settling down, make sure you try and take in every moment you can. I learned a long time ago that life’s too short to waste even a second. It all means something in the end, I think.”
The steady drone of cicadas filled the open air as the summer night took hold of the moment. Sakura’s future with Sasuke always seemed to be uncertain. Perhaps, it was due to her partner’s own unpredictability or the unstable nature of their chosen profession. But for a brief moment, Katashi’s words cleared the fog of the unknown and she could finally see it as plainly as she saw the moon above. Trials would come and go, the world would turn and change around them, but through everything they would have each other. They would have each other, and she would cherish every moment of it.
“I’ll try my best, Katashi.”
In the morning, Sakura rose with the sun and found Ren, Shiro, and Kastashi awake to greet her. She was confident that her work on Ren would be successful, but the sight of the boy smiling and speaking with his brother eased any lingering doubt. After a thorough round of thanks and farewells, Sakura took one last look back at Katashi’s humble home and smiled. Yesterday, it had seemed so dreary and lifeless. Now, the morning sun shone through thin clouds and illuminated it with warm, welcoming light. Ren and Shiro stood on the front steps, waving and jumping excitedly as their grandfather fussed at them to settle down. Sakura caught Katashi’s glance one last time before he turned and ushered his boys back inside.
Sakura turned her attention back toward Sasuke, whose eyes remained fixed on the road ahead.
“Where to now?” She asked as she took his hand in hers.
“We should go north and hope for better weather.”
She nodded and thought to let the brief conversation die out before letting herself continue.
“Sasuke, can I ask you something?”
“Ya, what is it?”
Her eyes wandered to the vast landscape around them.
“Do you think we’ll have what Katashi has? A family like that? It just seems…so far away.”
There was a brief pause, and Sakura wondered for a moment if Sasuke would let her question remain dead in the water. But eventually, he shifted his eyes to her and spoke.
“If that’s what you want, then that’s what we’ll have."
"It can't be that simple.” She protested. “We’re always going to be put in danger as shinobi. Always taking on missions and putting our lives at risk. Would it really be fair for us to put that on someone else, let alone a child?”
He flashed her his familiar half-smile. “Maybe your right. But, I think you’re worrying too much.” He glanced back over his shoulder. “If we do end up having a kid, they’ll have parents who are stronger than most others in the village. That has to account for something.”
Sakura let his words rest with her for a moment. "It does. But, I still don't know if we'll be able to give them the life they deserve. A normal life."
"You're right, they won't have a normal life." He said. "Even if we were to give up everything right now and retire to the village, they would never get to know what that feels like. It's just the consequence of having us as parents."
Sakura frowned, a deep sadness enveloping her as she accepted the truth of Sasuke's words.
"But, just because they wouldn't have a normal life doesn't mean they wouldn't have a good one. They'd be strong, in more ways than one." He stopped and let go of her hand, raising his own to her face and holding it gently. "Just, try not to worry about it. The worst is behind us, I'll make sure of it."
Sakura smiled and leaned in to kiss him on the cheek. He returned the gesture, and again they were off down the long road ahead of them.