Chapter Text
“Kanna-shishou? C’mon let's go!” Sakura called as she walked into her mentor house, long since been given free reign to come and go as she pleased.
Sakura checked the kitchen and study first, not seeing or hearing Kanna before walking towards the bedroom.
“Kanna-shishou,” Sakura called as she knocked on the door, “C’mon, I’m taking you to lunch today for your birthday!”
Hearing no response, Sakura gently pushed the door open.
“Kanna-shishou?” Sakura’s voice cracked.
Haku had found her three hours later sitting curled up by her mentor’s bed. Kanna had passed away during the night. That had been a week ago. The autopsy had ruled the death as natural and Kanna had been cremated as per her wishes in her will. There had been a letter addressed to Sakura along with her will, asking her student to return her ashes to the place of birth.
That was how Sakura found herself in the desert, slightly sunburnt with puffy eyes.
Sakura, as the only student I have ever taken and the only student I have ever wanted to take, I leave my belongings to you. I know my death will probably trouble you but be strong and remember I am very proud of you and I expect to hear about great adventures when you cross to the pure lands. Please return me to Suna after my passing and do not mourn me, child. It was my time.
Sakura had the now tear stained letter in her pocket, reaching down to drag her finger over the folded paper.
Temari was waiting for her at the entrance, leaning against a rock in the shade when Sakura approached her.
“You okay?” The blonde asked, taking note of Sakura’s red rimmed eyes and the dry tear stains on her face.
Sakura sniffled and shook her head no before falling in step with the older girl as Temari led them to the Kazekage’s office. Temari managed to find an empty bathroom for Sakura to splash some cold water on her face and wipe off most of the grime before entering the Kage’s office and while Sakura would have preferred a shower, it was better than nothing.
She recognized Sasori sitting behind the desk, dressed in Kage robes and knew vaguely of the old lady that stood to the side from her letters with Kankuro.
“Kazekage-sama, I am here to return the ashes of Kanna to the place of her birth.” Sakura stepped forward and bowed, her fingers tightening on the urn that she didn’t want to part from.
The old woman stepped forward, approaching Sakura with a somber look upon her face, “You were my cousin’s student.”
Sakura simply nodded, fearing that she would cry if she opened her mouth.
“Granny Chiyo, perhaps I should escort Sakura to her lodgings for the evening.” Temari stepped forward, wanting to comfort Sakura but unsure how.
Sakura handed the urn to Chiyo with careful fingers before bowing once and following Temari out the door. Temari, with all of her big sister abilities, managed to not only get an emotional Sakura back to the house she shared with her siblings, she managed to do so before Sakura began to cry.
And cry she did. Sakura wasn’t sure how much time had passed since she had collapsed into heaving sobs in Temari’s arms but she knew she must be a sight from the looks Gaara and Kankuro were giving her as they walked through the door. Gaara who she had built a flourishing friendship with over the years was concerned but unsure how to help. Temari simply passed Sakura off to Gaara when her sobs turned to sniffles before sending Kankuro out to get food for the four of them.
Sakura was sitting on the roof staring at the moon when Chiyo joined her. The older woman sat down next to Sakura allowing the silence to hold for several moments before speaking.
“Thank you for bringing my cousin home. And thank you for caring for her as much as you did.” Chiyo’s voice was soft and full of emotion.
Sakura simply nodded, sniffling a bit as Chiyo passed several scrolls to her before taking her leave.
Sakura stayed in Suna for two more days, most of that time she had one of the sand siblings looming over waiting for another emotional outburst that luckily never came. Gaara had become an ever present shadow over her shoulder as Sakura poured over the scrolls that Chiyo had given her, it wasn’t that he was particularly interested in what she was reading but Sakura had inadvertently become Gaara’s ‘example’ of emotional display. And because she was his friend if the numerous cati he sent her way was any indication.
Sakura waited until nightfall on her last day in Suna to leave, preferring to not travel in the heat of the day if she could avoid it. Cradling yet another plant from Gaara as she began her run home, Sakura thought back on the last couple years and the accomplishments she and her teammates had. Though they were technically teammates anymore due to their advancements, she, Chojuro and Haku had remained closer together than ever.
Sakura herself had been made jounin just the previous year along with both her teammates in a field promotion during a four day war with a faction of religious extremists. Haku had joined anbu shortly after, working as a hunter-nin but regularly took time to take missions with her and Chojuro. Chojuro had been inducted into the Seven Swordsman, an induction that Kisame had assured her had been hilarious because while Chojuro was an amazing fighter, old habits of stuttering came to the fore when asked to speak in front of those he looked up to.
Zabuza had managed to get a picture of Chojuro fainting when the Hiramekarei had been handed to him. Both Sakura and Haku had copies of the picture framed, much to Chojuro’s embarrassment. Ao- senpai , because he refused to acknowledge anything they said when they called him sensei, never managed to be free of his once students. He was often pulled onto missions with them, found himself having lunch with them once a week and would endlessly fret when one of them was late returning to the village. Not that he’d ever admit to it.
The journey home was shorter than the journey to Suna, mostly because as soon as she hit the river she summoned Kazemi, who was Sakura's favorite mode of transportation. The tiger shark had been miffed when she hadn’t been summoned to begin with but understood when Sakura had told her that she wanted as much time as she could get with what was left of her Shishou.
Kazemi kept a relatively constant stream of chatter as they crossed the ocean to return to Kiri, letting Sakura know about the storm that tried to blow Kiri off the map and how she witnessed the ‘Grouchy Old Eyepatch’ asking Kisame how his sister was doing. Sakura snorted at that comment, Kazemi had given Ao that nickname almost immediately and it had stuck no matter how many times Ao had threatened to roast the shark.
It was approaching nightfall when Sakura stepped through the gates, back into Kiri, and not five minutes later both of her teammates had inserted themselves into her personal space. Ao had joined them a moment later, pulling Sakura into a quick side hug before announcing that they were having dinner together. The team was quick to settle down in their regular seats at their favorite barbecue spot, the waitress didn’t even hand them menu’s anymore, only asking if they wanted ‘the usual’ before bringing food out.
Chojuro and Haku both followed her home, knowing that Sakura’s grief and tears would probably be back once alone. Sakura fell asleep bracketed by her teammates after another good cry, but when the tears stopped she felt lighter and knew that as long as she had her team then at least one thing was right. Everything could be dealt with together.