Sakura never questioned who she was.
Her mother was from Iron and her father was from Konoha and Sakura had a blade in her hands from the moment she could hold them. She has pink hair and green eyes and sometimes she would look in the mirror and feel like something was missing. Sometimes her Mother would show her a move and she would Know it wasn't right but- Why wouldn't it be?
Sakura has never questioned who she was.
She was never afraid of the Dark, and she would always make sure to be home before dark no matter if her parents said it was fine if she was a bit late. She had a hard time making friends and somehow it feels like it has always been this way- but hasn't it?
Sakura has never questioned who she was.
Sometimes while growing up she would be shocked at how high her voice was. She would be caught off guard when she used the bathroom, like something wasn't right-
Sometimes she would catch her reflection from the side of her eye and think, 'Mits-'
She never finished that thought. Sakura has never finished a lot of thoughts.
Like the way Sasuke reminds her of snakes and biting words, and Naruto reminds her of Flames and joy, and the way Kakashi-Sensei reminds her of Tengu Masks and safety. Or the way sometimes her body didn't feel quite right-
She never thinks about why being a Shinobi feels right in a way being a samurai never would have in this worl-
Sakura has never Questioned herself.
Even when she acts loud and flighty and- it doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter because Konoha is being attacked during the finale of the chunin exams and- These are fully trained Ninja why can't they break out of a simple genjutsu.
It doesn't matter because a Chunin told her to help the civilians before she could find her sensei. It doesn't matter because- somehow- this feels familiar. protecting civilians, guiding them somewhere safe, joining up with a random assortment of allies who are doing their best to keep each other all alive to see tomorrow.
There are four of them including her, and she doesn't know their names but they fight and they guide and when they make it to the civilian shelter they head out to find more. There is no time for stopping. There is no time for names. But she fights with them and there is no need for any of that.
Somehow, somewhere, she takes the lead. She tells them when to leave a civilian who is too badly injured. She tells them how they will go about getting back to the shelter. She leads the way, and she does not faulter.
Not when she takes a Katana off of a dead body. Not when she takes her team and the civilians the long way to the shelter. Not when they come across a vital cross roads. Not when they see the Konoha guardians of the crossroads be cut down.
She does not miss a beat as she decapitates the Sand Nin who did it.
"DON'T YOU DARE STAY TO HELP ME! GET TO THE SHELTER, NOW!"
Her temporary team members nod their heads at her and continue on. They won't have much longer to go, but one of them is already being carried by a civilian. She hopes they remember her.
"Bit bold for someone who killed my Sensei you bitch!" And suddenly she doesn't have the time to hope they make it to safety.
Sakura has never Questioned herself, and she won't start now.
So when her body adjusts the stances she has been taught all her life, when her breathing deepens and changes, when she is reminded of dark nights and sunrises, she does not combat them.
She is clumsy and first, body getting used to what it has always known- Getting used to being shorter, and lighter, and-
She gains a slash across her front for her sloppiness, and one on the corner of her mouth, and soon enough there is an explosion from a tag and a piece of the shrapnel gets lodged into one of her shoulders. But she does not stop.
She Will Not Stop. She made a promise.
She doesn't know when it all stops. When the attacks stop coming. When a dog with a hitai-ate and a deep voice tells a man with white hair where she is. She doesn't know any of that, too out of her mind to care about anything that isn't keeping those civilians and allies safe.
"I have to... Keep every-..one safe... Can't loose.... anyone.. again....." Her breathing is the only thing keeping her up right, but there are callused hands gently pulling her blade out of her fingers. She doesn't stop it, The man feels familiar. Safe.
And there are words- "It's ok Sakura. You did it, you kept them safe. It's all over now Sakura. You kept them safe, you did it-" Over and Over and when she looks up she can see the eye of her Sensei.
"I...I did it?" Her voice is small, her eyes are blurry and she knows there is blood all around her. She doesn't know what hurts and what doesn't and she can't help but feel as if it never used to be this messy.
"Yes, Sakura. You did it. You kept everyone safe." And she feels like this means something to her. She remembers a different final selection, and a fox mask, and not being enough to protect the one that protected her.
But her Sensei has never lied to her, and she remembers other things too. So she allows herself to slump into him, and she knows he will take care of her.