Chapter Text
Whomever said, "The world is black and white," must have been lying. If the world was Black and white, what were all the other colors Sakura saw? Many people saw many different colors, but Sakura? Sakura only saw red from where she stood, glancing at all the bodies surrounding her.
No one was spared, not even her. Though, she was the last alive even if these were her last moments.
Crimson red life fell from her lips, and a pale hand weakly rose up to where a sword impaled her stomach. Sakura was almost certain that she would be joining her teammates soon. But then something peculiar happened.
Of course, many do not anticipate gods interfering with their death, so when Sakura found herself sitting on a pillow, across from a blurry figure, she was surprised.
"My apologies, my procrastination has led to your world's destruction." Sakura could only stare, rubbing her eyes when they got watery. She did not understand what the person meant. "I had meant to unlock your full potential when you turned ten, but other events popped up in other dimensions and they all were dire, and I pushed your world off to the side one-too-many times." She kept silent as the voice continued to speak.
"Your world ended up like it did because of my wrongdoings, so I shall be the one to guide the correction of this world. Now, you are the only one left, so I must apologize now for the trouble I have, and will continue to, cause you. You have been selected to help me restore your world to its original state and get it back on its original course. I shall grant you your memories and five wishes. If it is within my power, It shall be granted." The voice was placating in a condescending way, and nothing could calm Sakura down after what she had heard.
"Before anything, could you explain why this is happening?" Her voice held steady, and her hand clenched at her lap, fisting her clothes into bunched up balls.
"Ah yes, of course! Well, you see, I was supposed to have your potential fully unlocked by the time you turned ten, thirteen at the latest, but I never did. Situations popped up every minute, and I had to deal with them because they seemed more dire than unlocking a child's potential. I was gravely mistaken." The voice turned sorrowful as it continued on, and Sakura nodded, but she did not feel that what the voice had done was justified.
"I know, pushing your world off until it hit mass destruction was my fault, and I will be punished by the Gods of life. I just wish to right my wrongs. You will be gifted your potential, your memories... as well as your abilities, your stamina, chakra levels, muscle memory, your strength, and your aptitude for chakra control. Of course, you have the blood relation you had before; the Uchiha, Uzumaki, and Senju clans. If you wish for the rinnegan, it can be done. I will just be unlocking it for you. Knowledge on how to use it will be sent to you automatically, so don't worry about that." The voice hurriedly spoke, going faster as the time passed.
"They have locked my location, I can no longer contact at the moment. Let me know when you want to use your wishes. Good luck." Sakura had no time to say anything because the next second, it felt like she was falling from the sky.
"FUCK YOU!" Sakura awoke with a gasp, launching herself from the soft twin sized mattress she was laid on. She felt as is bile rose up in her throat, her stomach clenched on nothing, and she rushed to the door off to the right of the room. Luckily it was a bathroom that the door led to, otherwise she would have had to waste time in cleaning up her own puke. Sakura barely made it to the toilet in time.
She heaved over the toilet, but nothing came out. Her chest was constricted and uncomfortable, as if she was not in her body, but she knew she was. The pale skin, the wisps of pink that flashed in her vision, the bright light the sun gave in the early morning- early morning. It was morning.
Sakura froze and her memories snapped into place. "Bastard!" Sakura cursed to the gods above, wishing to just bash her fist into the so called God's face. She stood up and turned to the mirror that sat on the blank walls.
She remembered this, it was the only room her parents let her decorate by herself. Her safe room- her bathroom. The walls were white, but the furniture was truly eye catching. A shower that had glossy tiles lined along the walls, a marble countertop that sparkled with gold foil, dark mahogany cabinets which complimented the room, and a beige tiled floor that was comfortable to lay on when the heat hit Konoha hardest.
It was the only room in the house she was happy with. It wasn't disgustingly pink, or looked like the annoyingly perfect household her parent wanted even though they were hardly, if ever, around. It was hers.
Sakura sighed as she left the room. She held back a grimace as she reentered her old bedroom. She always hated the annoyingly bright pink, but had put up with it to please her parents. She went to her closest and looked through the clothes that were there. Over half of the closet was filled with the only thing she wire as a Genin and it would no longer be able to fit her more physically trained body, so she guessed that that was where she would be starting.
Sakura glanced around to find something more suitable for her ANBU -esk style. She found some black sweatpants and a red long-sleeved shirt. It wasn't the best, but it would do. She had to go shopping once she got money from the D rank missions Kakashi accepted for them.
Sakura hurriedly shoved them into her arms and went to the bathroom before schooling her features. She could hear her parent's footsteps slowly walk towards her room. She grabbed a towel, rushed to the bathroom, and turned on the shower water. She held her breath as the footsteps stuttered before stopping at her door. They turned around and left. As she recalled, her parent would be leaving for Suna until the Chunin exams.
The teen slumped against her wall, taking a few deep breaths. Her parents had died during Pein's attack on Konoha. In an attempt to capture Naruto, he had leveled the building the Jinchuriki had been jumping to and from, which included her childhood house. She would have to move out as soon as she could, get away from the incredibly toxic and abusive relationship that was her family.
Sakura shook her head, showering, got dressed, and then checked the calendar before leaving via her window. It was the day after team 7 passed Kakashi's exam, so she was immensely anxious for what was to come. Would Kakashi question the change? Her know-it-all persona ended the day her team left her after the Chunin Exams, and had never resurfaced. She could be temperamental, but tended to keep a calmer disposition after being trained by Lady Tsunade and having to deal with all of her quirks.
Sakura hardened her resolve. She had to do this. There was no way to switch teams once you fought to be in one and were accepted unless a teammate died. No matter, all she had to focus on for now was making enough money to move out as quick as she could. She continued running across the roofs of buildings, but soon jumped down as she neared the red bridge they met at to get missions. No one else was there, but that was a given considering it was still early, around half past 6. No one would be showing up for another hour and a half.
Sakura shifted, and then took off towards the third training ground. She would use this time to make sure she was in total control of her body. She recalled what that irresponsible god had said, but wanted to test her old abilities out. Just in case.
She arrived within three minutes, and immediately started what had been her early morning training schedule when she was with her Shishou before- before everything came to a front.
Hour minutes passed when she felt something approaching rapidly. Sakura cursed, but quickly used an earth jutsu to mend the broken grounds. She say and waited. The chakra signature stopped at the tree line, waiting. Watching her. Sakura sighed and fell to the ground, spread eagle.
Fuck it, she decided.
She would just act as herself. If they didn't like her, then fuck them because they were not the people she grew to care about. They were not the people she loved, and damn it all to hell if they thought she was going to bend to their will to please them. She smoothed her erratically shifting chakra signature and calmed it down to what would, at this time, be considered the sleeping state. It was then that the chakra signature in the tree line moved. It approached cautiously, stopping at the slightest twitch of her brow before continuing as Sakura relaxed her face, eyes closed.
Ah, now she recalled why the signature was familiar, it was Kakashi. He stood by her feet, shadow cast onto her body. "You're awake." Sakura opened her eyes, and met her sensei's narrowed eye.
"Yes. And?" She lifted a brow, shifting to a sitting position. He tensed.
"You have... exceptional control over your chakra. I hadn't noticed the other day." It was most definitely an accusation.
"I decided to dumb myself down for the team. I've always had near complete control over my chakra. This is no different, I just stopped hiding it. After all, as my mother says, 'you should behave like a lady, not an overpowered hooligan running around in our trading clan's colors!' So I did as she asked." Sakura shamelessly threw shade at her parents. They were shitty, but she had never said anything about them the last time around. This would be her form of... revenge for the horrid situations they put her through since she was a child. This time around would be different. This time, they would be her scapegoats, her excuses and reasons for the sudden and drastic change in personality and ability.
She practically felt Kakashi falter, his glare wavering away to nothing. "Your parents..?" His voice was calm, nonchalant. His body, however, was tense and his fists clenched at his sides.
"What? Did you think I only knew the theoretical part of the academy? No, I could have passed with flying colors, but then I'd end up either homeless, or locked in my parents basement." She laughed bitterly as she recalled how they had done that to her after her fight with Ino, who told her own parents, who then approached Sakura's Parents. Barbaric, they had called her. Bastards. Acid rushed up her throat. She coughed a bit. Then she rushed to her side as her mouth watered suddenly. She heaved hunched over the ground.
Kakashi, whom she had gotten was there, pulled her hair back, and hesitantly rubbed her back. She pushed his hand away, aware of his discomfort with physical contact. "I'm... fine-" she said between heaves. It took a few minutes for her to stop, and a few more for her to breath without her eyes stinging with tears as the smell of her stomach acids hit her nostrils. She lifted her hand to her throat, and started to heal the raw tissue of her esophagus and throat. A hand stopped her midway through.
"Do you know how dangerous it is to practice medical ninjutsu on yourself without experience?" Sakura tore her arm from the Jonin's grasp.
"Then it's a good thing I have plenty of experience healing myself." Sakura continued as he watched her with narrowed eyes, she could practically hear him thinking, drawing lines, making connections.
She saw the moment he reached an epiphany. The way his hand clenched, his glove material groaned in protest. "And... how exactly did you gain this experience, Sakura?" His tone was gave now, and he kneeled down in front of her, watching as she healed herself.
"In a way no one would believe. Things like that don't happen to civilian raised ninja, teachers have said." Sakura cleared her throat, and quirked her lips into an empty half smile. She made sure it reached her eyes. Kakashi's suspicions would only grow from here on out, but she had shifted everything onto her birth giver and sperm donor. "What time is it?" She changed the subject, and leaned back slightly, purposefully giving off the impression of discomfort. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she knew Kakashi had caught it with the way his shoulders fell. She took out a bottle of water and used it to semi wash her mouth. She was only able to get rid of the smell and part of the taste of vomit, but some lingered.
"Sakura," he began, "have your parents ever done things to you that have made you feel... uncomfortable or unsafe around them?"
She shrugged. "Don't all parents do that in some way?" The deflection would catch him off guard, but further strike the image of an abused child. She had been that, once upon a time, but when her parents died, she had been an abused orphan, for a while. Then just a traumatized teenager with temperamental issues.
Kakashi hadn't questioned her further, "I think it's time for breakfast. Would you care to join me?" Sakura pursed her lips, contemplating. She agreed with a nod. Kakashi gave her an eye smile, but she could tell his mind was off elsewhere as he led her to an area of Konoha she had never been before. This had been the Jonin's housing area before Pein had destroyed the village.
She stayed silent as she followed behind her Sensei. They entered a building, went up three flights of stairs, and turned left. Five doors later, Kakashi paused, opened to door with a key he had hidden on him somewhere, turned the lights on, and let her in. She hesitated, pressed her lips together, and went in, ignoring the way his eye softened as she contemplated entering what she assumed was his home.
She went in.
It was... more organized than she had expected. Beige walls, a small living room off to the right with two large window that would be easy to reach and escape from. To the left was a kitchen with three small windows to let the room air out and no potential for a rushed exit. Further in were two doors, which she would assume were his bedroom and bathroom. She stepped forward and turned around to face her teacher. He had been silent, watching her eye all the exits available to her. She was fast enough to only leave her back to him for ten seconds. Kakashi took it as a trauma response, and noted the need for further information gathering. "Let's go to the kitchen, I have some leftovers from my dinner yesterday." He walked forward, noting how she waited until he passed her to follow. She had done the same on the walk to his apartment. Trust issues, possibly also from trauma. Sakura knew exactly what he was thinking, and she was playing into it hard by acting as she had when she first met her Shishou.
She waited until he gestured for her to sit, to approach a chair around a small table he had. It was barely enough for two people, but that made sense as he was the last alive of his clan. He had never really dated anyone due to his baggage, and never had kids before the war, but he was dependable when on serious missions. "Here you go, enjoying." Sakura waited for him to take a bite, before she spoke.
"Thank you for the food." She ate slowly, allowing her stomach time to adjust to the intake of a well balanced meal. Fruit with some vegetables, fried rice, and some chicken. She knew Kakashi was still watching her, but she also knew that if she ate any faster than what she was, after her parents had basically starved her all her life, she would end up vomiting again.
They ate in silence, and she barely finished half of her plate, but Kakashi didn't say anything. "Sorry..." Sakura near flinched at the sudden intense look her teacher gained. This had never happened before, she was uncomfortable.
"The bathroom is the door on the right. You can freshen up if you wish." He stood and took their plates, scrapping off any leftovers into a dog bowl that was most likely for his ninkin. Sakura quickly rushed to the bathroom.
She closed the door and stood there for a minute, trying to relax her tense stance. This was new, weird. She didn't like it, but she had to brave the storm that was to come. She washed her face, and gurgled some mouthwash before she stepped out. She went back to the kitchen, where Kakashi still stood, leaning against his sink.
"I think it's time we head over the bridge, don't you?" Her eyes wide as she looked over the only clock she had seen in the apartment. It was, something, 10 in the morning now. She cursed aloud, caught up in her surprised state.
"Now, my pretty little Genin, who taught you words like that? Tsk tsk, that just won't do!" Sakura relaxed slightly as his familiar mischievous side came out.
"You can talk to my neighbors about that!" She half smirked as they left the building and started towards the bridge. The sun shined hot against her head, and she continued contemplating whether she should cut it or not. What a conundrum.
"Hmm." He hummed at her response, but the severity in his eyes lessened as she joined in on his joking atmosphere. This was odd, but nice.
Sakura tensed as they passed the building she lived in, and relaxed when they were all the way down the street. Kakashi's suspicions would continue to grow until he had concrete proof.
They walked the rest of the way in silence amongst the hustle and bustle of villagers. Ah, yes. The villagers had treated Naruto like shit, hadn't they? That would have to change, and it would start with her. As the bridge came into sight, two specks of opposite color also came into view. Soon enough, they were at the bridge. "Hi, Naruto, Sasuke." Her voice seemed to snap them out of whatever thoughts they were caught in.
"You're late!" Naruto shouted, as Sasuke sent a confused glare her way. He was a bit less emotionally constipated at this point in time, but still a stand offish asshole.
"Sorry about that, we got caught up on the path of life." Kakashi faltered at her response, while the two boys' glares intensified.
"Don't become another Kakashi-sensei, Sakura! I beg you!" Naruto shouted, flailing his arms like a madman.
"Now that hurt my feelings, Naruto~" Kakashi shook off his confusion. "Just for that, we'll have training first, and if we have time we can go on a mission or two!" He gave an eye smile as he clapped his hands together. Well, there go her dreams of moving out fast. Her disappointment must have shown in her eyes or something because Kakashi looked at her almost immediately.
"Sakura." She stiffed and stood at attention.
"Yes, sir?" Her stance shifted just slightly, not enough to make a difference, but enough for only Kakashi to notice. She tensed, and jumped to the side as a kunai was sent her way. She landed silently, knees slightly bent and ready for a fast escape.
"My my, it seems you were holding back up until today. We'll have to talk about that." She gave a stiff nod, jumping back as something tried to get her from underground. "Good job. Let's go to training ground three, my cute little Genin!" He led the way with a leap towards the trees. They followed.
Sakura still occasionally dodged the odd kunai or shuriken aimed at her, but never complained. She hadn't even gotten nicked once they arrived, and Kakashi stopped his aim at her. "Well done, Sakura. Now, all of you. Show me a jutsu of your choice. You have to know it by heart, and it has to be done well. Starting with Naruto, then Sasuke, then Sakura." Naruto went ahead and made his signature shadow clones, whilst Sasuke did his fire ball justu. Sakura took a more damaging route as she punched the ground. They watched, agape, as the grass and dirt below them rumbled and then broke apart. It went on for a good while, but when it stopped all three boys had paled.
"You know, maybe it's a good thing you held back in the training exam." Kakashi spoke in a sort of resigned, contemplative tone.
"I'd say so, yes." Sakura agreed.
"Wow, Sakura-chan! You're really strong! Teach me how to do that!" Naruto demanded in manic glee.
"You have to have near complete control over your chakra, Naruto. Your inability to make a regular clone shows you need to learn chakra control. You wouldn't be able to do this." Sakura shook her head in dismissal, but Naruto just seemed more determined.
"And that," Kakashi spoke up, "brings up what we'll be doing today! Going over the basics, which includes chakra control." His eye turned grim. "We'll be covering everything and more. If you need a break drop out to the side. We'll begin now." And so, the first ever training session for team 7 began.
It took an hour for Naruto to drop to the side. Another for Sasuke. Sakura kept going. Kakashi tested her on ninjutsu, genjutsu, taijutsu, weapons, chakra control, anything and everything he could think of. He stopped, and Sakura stilled. "You know, with your level of skill, you could have graduated years ago. Why didn't you?" He spoke casually as he approached her.
"I think you know why. We half talked about it earlier, right here. I told you two options, they have not changed since I was a child." Sakura scowled, but quickly smoothed her features into a more pleasant half smile. The same as earlier. Fake, but hard to tell.
Kakashi paused before her. He placed a hand on her shoulder, and leaned down. "If those are truly your only options, then I will give you another. Don't hold back, and you can live with me until you get enough money to live on your own." Sakura inhaled sharply, body tense as ever. She looked down as tears stung at her eyes.
"Don't say things you don't mean, people might think kindly of you." She murmured as she lifted a hand to her face. She wiped any tears that left her eyes, and forced herself to be calm. It only took a few seconds, but that was a few too little it seemed as Kakashi's grip on her shoulder tightened.
"Sakura, have you been offered help before?" She shook her head, negative. The teachers she had before Iruka had mostly ignored her, pushed her, along with Naruto, off to the side for the clan heirs. By the time she got to Iruka's class, she was already far beyond her classmates due to self study, so Iruka never expected her to need help. She took a deep breath, and looked up.
"The clan children were more important. Resources went to them first, then Naruto, though he barely got any help as is. I was almost always top of my class, so no one batted an eye." She watched as his eye curved into something less relaxed than before. He hummed and nodded.
"Alright. You will be living with me from now on. Curfew it eleven at night for bed, and ten to be in the apartment. Wake up no earlier than six and no later then nine. We'll go over ground rules later. After training we'll get somethings from your house if you feel up to it. If not, we'll go shopping." His shoulders were tense, he was angry.
"You don't have to do this if it makes you uncomfortable. My parents will be leaving to Sunagakure soon for a B rank mission. They'll likely be there for weeks, if not months, and spend a bit of extra time to visit family." Sakura shifted on her feet, she was uncomfortable with the conversation.
"No." She froze.
"No?"
"No. Accept my kindness willingly, or unwillingly. Those are your options, each with the same outcome but different approach." Kakashi sent her an eye smile, his tone stern.
"Why- 'because you deserve kindness. Everyone does, and it's time someone showed that to you.'" She flounder a bit as he cut her off.
"Okay." She breathed and nodded in agreement.
"Alright. We'll continue talking after missions." He turned to the boys, who had started walking toward them just seconds earlier.
"We'll be going on a few missions now. I have a solid understanding of where each of you is at, and now I will be creating a training regime for each of you." He clapped his hands. "Now let's go on our first mission!" Naruto cheered, jumping and going on about how they were finally going on a mission, and Sasuke smirked in satisfaction.
They were off.